The one constant of life is change, and without constant evolution stagnation eventually turns to failure. No one understood this better than Jeff Cooper, a retired Marine Lt. Colonel, who established the American Pistol Institute, now known simply as Gunsite, in 1976. Cooper was the cutting edge in tactical training, and his research for better solutions to solve lethal conflict has made Gunsite the top destination for responsibly armed citizens. While Cooper was a huge advocate of the 1911, he was not averse to examining other firearms that might provide the user with a better tool.

Gunsite Glock 45

Cooper passed away in 2006 but his legacy continues. He’d always seen Gunsite as an evergreen operation with staff that had real-world law enforcement or military experience. Most instructors have both. Ken Campbell, the current CEO of Gunsite, took a few moments to speak with me about the new Glock Gunsite Service Pistol (GGSP).

“We know this is not a 1911,” Campbell said. “It is not a .45 and it has a pistol-mounted optic. Some people will say Jeff Cooper would have hated this gun. The point is Cooper was always on the cutting edge of training. Glocks have been around since 1986. They are tried and true–there’s no arguing with their record of success. Pistol-mounted optics are also tried and true. We’re looking down the road into the future. Don’t get me wrong–we’re not doing away with our Colt 1911 Gunsite Service Pistol, but the GGSP will be in addition to it.”

Campbell told me that more than 50-percent of the Gunsite students now show up with striker-fired guns, and more than half of those have an optic on their gun. The 1911 is far from dead, but time marches on and Glock’s track record is undeniable.

Evolution: The Gunsite Way

Campbell continued, “Cooper evolved, and his training was a constant review and revise as better solutions were found. Eighteen months ago, Bob Radecki came to us with the idea of the Glock Gunsite Service Pistol. We’ve had a long partnership with Glock and in 2012 we celebrated the 25^th Anniversary of Glock with three 350 classes. The modern technique has evolved!”

The G45 forms the base gun for the GGSP. According to Bob Radecki, Glock’s National Sales Manager, the G45 is Glock’s best-selling law enforcement gun. “It’s perfect for duty and off-duty use!”

The initial run will be 1,000 guns and Gunsite has partnered with Davidsons (davidsonsinc.com) on this. Guns will be available through any Davidson dealers and also through the Gunsite Pro shop (gunsitestore.com). Retail price is $1274.95. This is a gun that is ready for duty or concealed carry right out of the box!

Radecki walked me through the gun features on a recent visit to Gunsite.

“The G45 is what we call a crossover gun,” Radecki said. “It uses the full-length G17 grip frame and the G19 4-inch barrel and slide. Magazine capacity is 17+1, of course. Right now, it is our most popular duty weapon. Part of the reason is the shorter barrel and that makes sitting in a car a lot easier without the holster pushing the gun up when it contacts the car seat. The other factor is that sight radius doesn’t mean a lot when you’re shooting a red dot.”

Carry-Optics Trends

“One of the trends we’re seeing in law enforcement is the increase in pistol-mounted optics,” Radecki continued. “Even if the agency is not currently issuing optics-equipped guns, they are buying optics-ready pistols so that they’ll have that option down the road.

“We selected the Holosun 509 optic for this gun and it is directly mounted to the slide. There are three different reticle options, and the user can toggle through them for preference. It has a replaceable battery but also has a solar collector to help keep it charged and a “Shake to Wake” feature. The GGSP also comes equipped with black Ameriglo suppressor height sights that are visible in the lower 1/3 of the field of view, but very handy if you have a dot failure.

“Other features it comes with is a Minus Connector, which gives the gun a slightly lighter trigger pull. Our trigger pull weight goal is between 4.5-5 pounds. We’ve added a lanyard loop to the gun as a throwback to the old Gunsite Service Pistols. We’ve also included the FBI magazine release–developed at the request of that agency so it would be easier for those with smaller hands to engage it. It’s slightly extended with the forward edge rounded. Like all Gen 5 guns it has a slightly flared magwell for easier magazine insertion for speedy reloads,” Radecki concluded.

Gunsite Branding Adds to Appeal

There are also a couple of cosmetic additions to make the G45 particulalrly appealing to Gunsite alumni. Ken Campbell calls it the “Bird and the Word.” Laser engraved into the slide’s nDLC finish is the Gunsite Raven and the legend “Gunsite.” Guns bought through the Gunsite Pro Shop will have the retro flying Raven on the cover plate. Serial numbers will begin with API for American Pistol Institute, which was the original name of Cooper’s training center, eventually known as Gunsite.

As Ken Campbell said, “Robust, reliable and accurate, the Glock Gunsite Service Pistol is the evolution of the Modern Fighting Pistol!”

The Gunsite Glock 45 retails for $1,274.99. For purchase information via Davidson’s Gallery of Guns, visit gunsite.com.

Aero Precision just launched an interesting platform in direct response to the June 13th overturning of the onerous ATF Pistol Brace Ruling. The resulting Aero Solus Short Action Pistol brings a versatile platform for shooting and hunting.

Aero Solus Short Action Pistol

Like the Solus Competition Rifle, the Solus Short Action Pistol features a Remington 700 short-action footprint. It includes a 60-degree bolt throw and integral 20 MOA top rail. A three-lug interchangeable bolt head, dual ejectors and a “cock-on-lift” bolt design add greater appeal. The action comes bedded in Aero’s 7.5-inch Solus Competition chassis.

The magazine catch features user adjustability, while a thumb rest delivers a feature precision shooters demand. The platform works off both AICS and AIWIW magazines and is compatible with AR-15-style pistol grips. The chassis features a 1913 rear, includes an Acra and M-LOK-compatible forend. A night vision bridge and Picatinny spigot deliver more utility.

Aero will offer the Solus pistols in several calibers, including .300 BLK, 5.56, .223, .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and 8.6 BLK. Barrels come honed and lapped and exhibit an elite Cerakote finish. Barrel lengths come in 8, 10.5 and 12 inches.

All configurations will be offered in eight different colors, including Black, FDE, Bazooka Green, Black Cherry, SOCOM Blue, RAL8000, Copper Suede and Tungsten. A Trigger Tech Single Stage Trigger comes standard, as does one 10-round Magpul PMAG.

For more info, visit aeroprecisionusa.com.

Aero Solus Short Action Pistol Specifications:

• Barrel Contour: Sendero Light
• Action Length: Short Action
• Calibers: .300 BLK, 5.56, .223, .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and 8.6 BLK.
• Barrel Lengths: 8, 10.5 and 12 inches
• Magazine Cut: AICS, AIAW
• MSRP: $1,899.99

Editor’s Take:

Aero comes out swinging with a product line few likely could have predicted. The Solus Competition Rifle seriously grabbed our attention. So we’re super excited to see this interesting pistol platform. With a brace and the desired accessories, what a pack gun this little sporter should make. The possibilities seem almost limitless. We’ll get one on the range for a full review real soon.

Combative blocks and parries are pretty much universal in any martial arts system. Sure, there are countless variations of every block or parry. But they all serve the same basic purpose—to keep you from getting punched, stabbed, or kicked in the face. So, ensuring that you focus on proper blocking techniques is vital to any self-defense regimen.

Successful Defense Through Proper Blocking

There seem to be dozens of different blocks that one can master. These include high blocks, down blocks, cross blocks, circular blocks, elbow blocks, double-handed blocks, etc.

In this article, we are going to discuss basic blocks, how, why, and when they work, and how to execute them at a fundamental level.

Movement Is Life

My biggest pet peeve when I see an instructor teaching a student how to block is when the instructor has the student just stand there stagnant and in a static stance. Sure, this is the way that most beginner white belt students learn. But the habit of standing still must be broken fast.

Movement is life, and you must practice “getting off the X.” Either practice moving, ducking/slipping into the block, moving away from the block to the side, or basically anywhere.

Don’t just stand there with your face behind your arm, counting on your arm to do all the work. If your block misses or isn’t strong enough, your body should be moving to evade/counter the oncoming attack.

A Basic High Block

A high block is a basic block that works well. It can be used straight up and forward or angled to the side. I see a lot of classes where this fundamental block is taught incorrectly. For example, students are pretty much just swinging their arms straight up and almost hitting themselves in the face. That version does not work.

Think back to ancient times when combatants fought with weapons and shields. Now, envision a shield raising upwards and towards an oncoming attack. That is the basis of a high block.

Your arm acts as your shield, driving energy up and towards the attack, blocking with the outer edge of the forearm. You might throw a high block to counter an overhead punch or to over-power a looping hook coming from above.

Basic High Block Demonstration:

Blocking vs. Parrying

A block is typically force-on-force—attacking the attack with the intent to stop the attacking strike. A parry tends to be a sidestep, pushing or slapping an attack away. You will see a parry and a counterpunch in many combative systems, including boxing.

In this series, Chris demonstrates a parry against a right punch and counters with his own. Unfortunately for his attacker, Jose, Chris has a nice Coppershed copper defense knuckle to add to the impact.

Close the Gap and Counterstrike

Sometimes, blocks are used strictly defensively. However, sometimes they are used to absorb the shock so a fighter can close the open distance and deliver his or her own strike.

Now, defensively, I always recommend creating enough distance to escape to safety. But sometimes, getting away is not an option. So, in those cases, the best defense is an overpowering offense.

Dealing with An Edged Weapon

The ultimate purpose of a block is to stop or shut down an attack. Sometimes, levels of force can escalate beyond empty-handed strikes and kicks. The possibility of an edge weapon being deployed into the fray is very real.

Some instructors will tell you to run when you see a knife. But what if you can’t run? What if you try to run and your attacker is faster than you? Or a better runner than you are?  Now you will have to fight tired.

There is no sixty-second instruction book for learning how to defend against a knife attack. The following photos are just to give an example of how a knife can be used to block, counter, and hopefully disarm or disable an attacking limb long enough to give you time to get away to safety.

Thank You 2024 Blade Show Fight Club

I want to extend a huge thank you to my buds, fellow knife designers, and martial artists who took time out of the extremely busy 2024 Atlanta Blade Show to take pictures for this article.

An extra special thank you to Ryan Forbes from Copper Shed Metal Works for the Copper Knuckle used in this article. Finally, thank you to Chris Cabin from Hog Mountain Tool and Tactical for making the CUMA BEAST training knives that were used in this article.

For more information, please visit CopperShed.com and TakKnife.com.

A fight with another person is an adrenaline-infused conflict in which you may or may not emerge victorious. There are a lot of factors involved when verbal taunts turn to pushy hands and pushing turns to fists flying. The size and speed of the individual, their skills at fighting, possible weapons in their hand, and a sometimes formidable environment where you’re throwing down can all determine the outcome. Now, take all this and multiply it by two, as in two aggressors coming at you for an unfair, yet highly possible scenario. You may think you’re finished before it even begins, with the unbalanced odds not in your favor, but you would be wrong. You can come out unscathed in a fight when the odds are against you; here’s what you need to do to win a 2 against 1 fight!

Winning the 2 Against 1 Fight

Avoidance

To be honest, the best way to survive an unprovoked street fight against an aggressive duo is not to get into the fight in the first place. True, you can’t control the actions of others, but if you stay aware of your surroundings and use common sense as you make your way throughout your day, you can avoid conflicts before they start. For example, if there’s a group of questionable people hanging out in your path, just take another route. If a car just cut you off, resist the urge to send a hand gesture their way, and if you notice one or two people eyeing you as you walk, head straight to a highly populated public area and lose them in the crowd or seek  out help. Basically, if you can avoid a conflict then a two-on-one fight scenario, most likely, won’t occur. 

Keep Moving

If a fight can’t be avoided and you’re facing not one aggressor attacker, but two, then it’s time to stay moving. This doesn’t necessarily mean fleeing from the scene (but that should be your first strategic move, forget your ego and run), but rather you need to stay moving within your confined fighting space in order to gain the advantage. You need to avoid, defend, and strike (more on that soon) on the move. By being always mobile, you will accomplish two things, First, they won’t be able to lock onto a specific area of your body such as your face or torso section, and two, they may become winded during the chase to hit or grab you. If they tire first then you definitely have the advantage moving forward and a great chance to survive the skirmish. 

Strike Smart

As you move, you need to defend yourself from your attacker’s punches, kicks, and grabs, but you also must hit your foes to hopefully end the fight quickly. In order to accomplish this, you need to strike them properly as you move. You cannot stop your movement, plant your feet and throw a wide, knock-out shot; you’ll have no time. Instead, short, quick and precise attacks to your opponent’s vital areas will help slow them down and allow you to overcome the uneven odds. Vital areas include the throat, the bridge of the nose, the eyes, and the groin. You can cause both great pain and immobilization of your attacker with little force on your part by targeting these areas. These vital areas can be exploited with your fingertips (to their eyes), one knuckle (to their throat), and a hammer motion of your closed fist (to their nose.)  

Human Shield

As you move and strike, always keep one attacker between yourself and the other attacker. This should be done to accomplish two important things. First, this allows you to “deal” with only one aggressor at a time, and second, you can use that person as a shield against the other. In fact, your “shield” may take an unintentional hit from his buddy as he or she tries to get a strike on you. Being in a a two-on-one fight doesn’t mean you fight both at the same time. Using one attacker as a barrier will force them to take turns coming at you. 

Avoid the Grab & the Ground

As if moving constantly and striking smartly wasn’t enough, you’ll need to also avoid being grabbed and taken to the ground. If you do get grabbed, either by your clothing or your arm, head, or body, it will be almost impossible to continue the fight against the two attackers. Most likely, one would hold you while the other would take some shots and soon you’d be hurt or worse. Also, It should go without saying that once you do get grabbed, you’ll be taken down to the ground, and face a barrage of hard-to-defend-against kicks. To combat this, keep your hands always up as you move and parry away your foe’s attempts at a grab. Never let your hands drop. Additionally, as you parry their hands away they leave themselves open for a counter strike against their vital areas, so it’s a win-win for you. 

Even the Odds

To help even the odds a bit, it may be wise to carry a weapon with you throughout your day, or at least when you’re traveling through unsavory neighborhoods or city streets. This weapon could be a knife, an extendable baton, or a kubaton (a short metal or wooden stick for striking and pressure point application.) Any one of these could help turn the tide. Be sure to learn how to properly use your weapon, as well as being able to move and strike with it while you carry it. Bear in mind that a weapon is no substitution for following the aforementioned tips for a two-on-one fight. You’ll still need to move. You’ll still need to strike smartly, and you’ll still need to avoid being grabbed and taken down. A weapon is only an addition to your multiple attack defense repertoire, not a replacement. 

Get Some Professional Training

Though one could survive a two-on-one fight with no training, it’s not the norm. It’s wise to take some self-defense or martial arts training so your movements and strikes become second nature and fluid. Many martial arts, like Aikido, Japanese Ju-Jitsu, and Krav Maga, incorporate multiple attacks, weapons, and evasion tactics into their regular teachings. It’s best to research, watch, and try some classes in a variety of martial arts to find the best one to suit your needs. 

The year is 1914, a time when men were men, and the sheep ran scared. The setting is a foggy European landscape at night. The conditions are cold, wet, austere. You are hungry and scared but still completely focused on the task at hand. You are also about to take the life of a man that you don’t know for the greater good of the world with a sentry-removal tool called the trench knife. This instrument of death gives you the option of either crushing his skull with its brass knuckle-style handle or skewering him with the blade.

With catlike agility, you sneak up behind the sentry and act upon your wise decision to first crack his head with the knuckles and then slice open his throat. You have truly used the trench knife to its fullest and completed your mission. OK, OK, back to reality, folks … it’s 2024, you’re reading SkillsetMag, and we’re about to discuss the collectibility of the most recognizable non-firearm killing tool.

The History of the Trench Knife

Before we discuss how collectible trench knives are, let’s learn about this weapon a bit. Although knife designs similar to the trench knife may have predated 1914, they weren’t made famous until U.S. and foreign armed forces started using them in World War I. The trench knife got its name during the Great War, when troops lived in 20-foot-deep trenches.

While the trench knife may have had utilitarian purposes, it was primarily designed to be a weapon, and, yes, it was designed to kill people quietly in the trenches without using a firearm. Some military and weapons enthusiasts argue that a trench knife can be any knife designed to be used in the trenches of war. However, most collectors and enthusiasts disagree and maintain that the trench knife is any fixed blade or spike with a guard to protect your fingers, which can also be used as knuckles to smash someone’s face.

French manufacturer Au Lion made the original trench knife in World War I. This was followed by a one-million-piece order manufactured by the U.S. company Landers, Frary & Clark (L.F.&C.). The MK1 trench knife is an American trench variation designed by American Expeditionary Force (AEF) officers for use in World War I. Design changes led to the M1917 and M1918 trench knives. Toward the war’s end and after exhaustive testing, the AEF realized that the trench knife was too limited for soldiers to use as a utilitarian knife. After that, it was strictly deployed as a man-killing tool.

Knives Worthy of Collectability

Regarding their collectibility, trench knives are weapons that will never go out of style. They will continue to increase in value if you buy original manufactured ones for military use under contract. Of course, some versions defy the rules, such as custom-made ones by well-known tactical knife makers. The average price for a knife is as low as $500 and can average up to $1,500 (even though some go for thousands). The most desirable ones (not the rarest) are from L.F.&C. Many trench knives made by L.F.&C. are stamped under the hilt with their name and the letters U.S. and 1917 and 1918.

The blades on these are typically just a triangular spike, with a wooden handle and a metal guard with spikes on it. The sheaths are generally made out of metal as well. It is essential to know that you should not expect to find these dead mint, since most are from World War I and are over one hundred years old. It is normal to see some wear and tear, maybe a little rust and a lot of patina. In addition, another U.S. company called A.C. CO. made an extremely rare collectible trench knife. These look very similar to L.F.&C. knives but are manufactured a bit cleaner and nicer. 

Next, I am going to advise that if you are buying knives to make money (which you totally can), you need to really do your homework. Plenty of trench knives have been cut down in size or modified for various reasons. Sometimes, these modifications are acceptable and will not affect the value, but sometimes, they will significantly diminish the knife’s worth.    

The Collector Marketplace

There are experts who travel the knife- and gun-show circuit who can guide you so you don’t get ripped off. People like Paul Farina and Art Green have a wealth of knowledge and are honest purveyors who want to see people enjoy the art of collecting vintage military knives. Both myself and fellow Skillset contributor Brady Miller have made multiple purchases from both. Just know that if you build a collection of trench knives, it’s a safe bet for your money.

A common question in firearms design is, “Why reinvent the wheel?” Many of today’s popular handguns are based on previous successful pistol models. For example, look at all the clones based on the Glock, CZ 75, or Beretta Model 92 Series. And when Lionheart Industries released its Vulcan 9 there was something very familiar about it as well.

Pedigree of the Lionheart Industries Vulcan 9

Daewoo Precision Industry Ltd. patented a pistol in 1992 that became the K5/DP-51. SNT Motiv of South Korea produced it. Several companies marketed the K5/DP51 in the United States in the 1990s.

In 2011, it was reintroduced in America through a collaboration between Daewoo/SNT Motiv and Lionheart Industries as the LH9 Series. In 2016, Lionheart introduced a variant in 9mm Luger called the Regulus. It was not an import but was, instead, made in the USA.

This was when I first caught wind of this interesting pistol. The Regulus underwent several design, aesthetic, and cosmetic changes and evolved into what Lionheart is today calling the Vulcan 9.

There are four versions: the Ember, Shadow, Combat, and Anode; my test gun was an Anode.

Introducing the Lionheart Vulcan 9

At the heart of the new Vulcan 9 is the unique “Fast Action” trigger mechanism. Some refer to it as a Double Action (DA) Plus. To activate this feature, the hammer must be manually cocked, then simply pushed forward, back into the “relaxed” position. Now, the trigger is pressed to the rear, which re-cocks the hammer, and further pressure on the trigger fires the pistol.

With the “Fast Action” engaged, it takes only about 2 pounds of compression to move the trigger back about 0.50 inches until it “catches.” Then 3-4 more pounds of exertion drops the hammer.

The Vulcan 9 can also be fired in the conventional DA mode for the first shot. The DA pull is smooth, with a pull weight of 10-12 pounds. As with most hammer-fired DA pistols, after the first shot, the remaining shots are fired in single action.

You also have the option of carrying the Vulcan 9 in Condition One or “cocked and locked” by cocking the hammer and applying the ambidextrous manual thumb safety.

The Rapid Engagement Grip System (REGS)

Another important feature of the Vulcan 9 is called the REGS or Rapid Engagement Grip System. An extension of the left G10 “Accelerator” grip panel over the trigger area forms a thumb rest that allows the shooter to exert downward pressure on the frame. This helps to better control muzzle flip.

I found that this system works even better when the support hand’s index finger is wrapped around the square-fronted trigger guard.

Per the owner’s manual, a grip panel with the thumb shelf on the right side can be had for lefties. On the opposite grip panel above the trigger is a checkered panel where the shooter can place the index finger until ready to fire.

The black grips are checkered and add little to the width of the pistol, which measures 1.19 inches. There are also checkered panels on the front and backstraps of the 7075 aluminum frame.

Getting the Vulcan 9 On Target

The slide is machined from 4140 alloy steel, and both it and the frame are given a PVD Smoke Grey finish. It has deep chevron-shaped serrations front and rear.

My test gun came with a green fiber-optic front sight and a rear sight that is serrated in the rear to reduce glare. The rear sight also slopes forward at the front to facilitate catching the trouser belt for one-handed, emergency slide retraction. Both sights are standard height and mounted in SIG P365 dovetail cuts, allowing lateral movement for windage adjustment. Tritium night sights are optional.

The Vulcan 9 slide is also optics-ready, with a cover plate in place. No adapter plates are needed, and the screw pattern accommodates dot sights with the Shield RMSc or Trijicon RMRcc footprints.

The Tru-Axis barrel length is 3.7 inches, with a threaded 4.3-inch barrel as an option. It’s made of 416R stainless-steel and is black DLC coated.

My test gun came with the standard, smooth-faced trigger, that’s just over 0.25 inches wide. On some Vulcan 9 models, you can get a “J” Trigger Shoe that is more flat-faced and allows for more consistent trigger finger placement to enhance accuracy. Similarly, the hammer has a loop-style spur and is serrated for good thumb purchase.

Rounding Out the Gun’s Package

Other frame features include a dust cover with integral Picatinny rail, plus a low-profile slide stop and magazine catch. The manual safety levers are rather small and pivot at the front. When in the up position, it is “on-safe,” and the down position exposes a red dot and makes the pistol ready to fire.

The Vulcan 9 is furnished with two 15-round magazines; one of my magazines had a “Multitool Baseplate.” Inset into the bottom is a NANO2 Multitasker tool that can be used to remove the grip screws. It is held in place by the magazine spring seat button. The Regulus magazines are an in-house product.

My test gun came in a tan, ballistic nylon case with a zipper closure and carrying handles. Inside was a zippered compartment for the Vulcan 9, pouches for the optics hardware, and a very detailed owner’s manual.

Segmented elastic bands held an extra magazine, a cleaning kit, a bottle of SLIP 2000 Extreme Weapons Lubricant, and a safety padlock. This is a very nice setup that befits its price point.

The disassembly process for cleaning is simple and straightforward. It is covered in the manual, so I won’t discuss it here. Fit and finish of the Vulcan 9 are first-rate, with no machine marks or blemishes on the pistol’s exterior.

Prepping the Pistol for Testing & Evaluation

My ammunition locker was getting pretty low on 9mm loads, so I mixed some vintage and contemporary cartridges. For general shooting, I selected Black Hills Factory New 115 gr. FMJ rounds. Then I grabbed a box of Federal Tactical (LE) 147 gr. JHP’s that feature the Hydra-Shok bullet.

Next up are some recent Norma MHP loads with a 108 gr. monolithic hollow-point bullet. Another recent load I picked was Nosler ASP (Assured Stopping Power) cartridges with a 115 gr. JHP. Lastly, were some vintage Winchester LE loads with a 127 gr. SXT (Black Rhino) HP bullet at +P+ velocities.

For packing leather, I chose a three-piece rig from El Paso Saddlery. For the holster, I went with a #88 “Street Combat” shuck. It’s a pancake style, open top/open muzzle, high-ride, made of premium saddle leather, with a suede lining that helps with retention. Mine is in russet brown, with fish scale stamping and 1.5-inch width belt loops.

I mated it with a 1F Friction Single Mag pouch. It’s also open top, has a snap-closure belt loop, and is the same color and finish as the holster.

Mated with the holster and pouch was a #100 New Ranger pants belt that’s 1.5 inches wide and billeted for handgun carry or dress wear. It is smooth leather lined, with a brass buckle, and in the same color and stamping as the other leather items.

A very practical, yet classic-looking outfit indeed.

Running the Vulcan in Its Stock Configuration

For my test and evaluation, I decided not to hang anything on the Vulcan 9 Anode. The factory iron sights will not co-witness with my Burris Fastfire C MRDS. I’m not comfortable with an electronic sight that wouldn’t allow an iron sight backup.

You can find SIG P365 suppressor height sights that will work with the Vulcan 9. But I wasn’t going to swap out the iron sights on a test gun.

I also elected not to use a tactical light on the Picatinny rail. If I had, it would have been a quick attachable/detachable type, like the Safariland Rapid Light System Model RLS13PIC1.

Hitting the Range

Due to weather conditions, I decided to do my accuracy evaluation indoors and my chronographing and combat shooting test outdoors. I took the gun and gear to a local Range USA facility where I’m a member.

Once there, I set up on my assigned lane, which has a tabletop for my sandbag rest. I used multi-bullseye paper targets that were sent down to the 15-yard line. All shooting with the Vulcan 9 was done in single-action mode, with three 5-shot groups per load.

Of the five 9mm test loads, the most accurate proved to be the old Federal Tactical with the 147 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP. One 5-shot cluster measured 2.12 inches, and the 3-group average was 2.33 inches.

None of the group averages went over the 2.87-inch mark, and the point of aim/point of impact was good. A few groups moved off right of center. The rest of the group data is in the accompanying performance table (below).

Drilling Paper

Outdoors, I set up my Oehler Model 35P chronograph before the wind kicked up and got my velocity readings on the 9mm test loads through the 3.7-inch Tru-Axis barrel. This data is also included in the performance table (below).

For the practical/combat shooting evaluation, I erected my target stand at 15 yards and attached a Thompson Target B27 STOP target with immobilization zones. The red zones score 10 points, and the other zones are worth 5 points.

In the hand of the skeletal “bad guy” is a DA revolver. I loaded up my two 15-round magazines with a mix of the test ammunition. Then I inserted one in the Vulcan 9 and the other in the EP Saddlery 1F mag pouch worn on my left side at about 9 o’clock. The Street Combat holster was worn at 3 o’clock on my right side.

Before holstering, I chambered a round and placed the Vulcan 9 in the “Fast Fire” mode. I repeated this at the beginning of each stage.

Then, I moved up to within 3 yards of the target and drew the Vulcan 9 from the holster. After taking a step to the right, I engaged the threat with six rounds, shooting in an instinctive/close-quarters manner, using my strong hand only.

I then transitioned the pistol to my support hand and fired six more shots in like manner. After a 360° assessment, I slowly worked the gun back into the holster. This was repeated at the end of each stage.

Running the Vulcan 9 for Self-Defense

Next, I backed up to 7 yards, drew the Vulcan 9, and assumed an isosceles two-handed stance. I then engaged the target using the sights and fired a double-tap. The pistol was lowered to “high-ready,” and I re-engaged the target with one shot, a rapid reload, and a follow-up shot. Another double-tap from high-ready followed this.

Remaining at 7 yards, I drew and fired two shots center-mass and one shot to the head for a “failure” or body armor drill. This was repeated a second time.

Afterward, I repaired to the 15-yard line and, using an impromptu barricade, shot two rounds from the left side and two rounds from the right side, both standing. Then, from a covered kneeling position, I fired my last two shots.

Of a possible 300 points, I scored 265. One of my headshots was completely outside the scoring zones (sigh).

The Rest of the Story

At the indoor range, I took some sighting shots with Vulcan 9 and did some rapid-fire shooting. This was just to check out the pistol’s reliability. That, added to the formal test shooting, amounted to some 175 shots. I didn’t have a single malfunction.

No shooting was done starting from Condition One. The thumb safety levers are smallish but easily manipulated into the “safe” position. I just didn’t feel the need.

What Lionheart calls their golf ball-type texturing on the grip panels and grip frame allowed a good hold on the pistol and didn’t prove abrasive to the hand. Between that texturing and the Rapid Engagement Grip System, rapid repeat shots were effortlessly controllable. Even with the hot Winchester LE-Only +P+ loads.

The magazine catch was easy to manipulate, and empty magazines dropped right out when it was pressed. This pistol pointed very naturally for me due to the grip angle and flat profile backstrap. The “Fast Action” trigger took some getting used to, but it is a worthwhile feature and assisted in practical accuracy.

It took me almost two years to get a test gun from Lionheart, but I believe it was worth the wait. I’d ride the river with this pistola.

For more information, please visit LionheartIndustries.com.

Lionheart Industries Vulcan 9 Specs

Performance

NOTE:  Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second 10 ft. from the muzzle by an Oehler Model 35P chronograph, and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 15 yards.

The Grandpower Stribog SP9 A3 9mm rifle has garnered the attention of firearms enthusiasts since its launch, especially PCC fans and those fond of the Stribog line as a whole. Born of Slovakian origins, this punchy carbine offers a versatile solution for shooters of varying experience levels. Read on as we look at what this rifle has to offer, and why you should consider making it a new addition to your already packed gun safe.

Grand Power SP9 A3

Compact and stock full of features, this easy-shooting 9mm strikes a harmonious balance between stability and portability, weighing in at 6.6 pounds and an overall length between 26 inches and 35.6 inches, depending on whether or not you have the stock expanded or folded to the side. The aluminum alloy frame is robust and ensures durability without adding unnecessary weight. A black anodized finish complements the rifle’s sleek design, providing resistance to corrosion and wear.

One of the standout features of the Stribog SP9 A3 is its roller-delayed blowback operating system. This system reduces recoil and improves accuracy, making it easier to control during rapid fire, thus allowing you to quickly get your sights back on target. The Stribog SP9 A3 also comes with an integrated Picatinny rail on the top and bottom, allowing for the easy attachment of optics, hand stops, and other accessories.  While we kept ours bare up top for simplicity’s sake, you can easily mount a variety of optics, from red dot sights to scopes, depending on the application at hand. The inclusion of flip-up sights ensures that the rifle remains operational even if an optic fails. 

Refuse to believe your eyesight isn’t what it used to be and want to run the gun right out of the box with irons?  Nothing wrong with that! The ambidextrous safety and magazine release cater to both left- and right-handed shooters, enhancing its versatility and appeal. This rifle is fed by a double-stack polymer magazine with a 30-round capacity; when full you’re off to the races, sure to leave no steel un-rung.  

Suppressor-Ready & Capable

Since it would be a shame to let a threaded barrel go to waste, we decided to slap on a can, specifically the CA$H 9K from Huxwrx. Optimized for use with PCCs, this suppressor is both compact and lightweight, keeping the footprint of the Stribog compact while hushing things down significantly when used in conjunction with subsonic ammo. Measuring 5.15 inches in length and weighing a mere 5.9 ounces, you’ll barely notice it’s there. Using their patented Flow-Through technology, all the gases are directed out by mitigating recoil, allowing for faster follow-up shots and greater overall control.

During testing, the SP9 A3 demonstrated impressive accuracy at various ranges, consistently delivering tight groupings. Thinking about putting a can on yours once you pick it up? The thread pitch on the Stribog’s barrel is 1/2×28.

Rounds Downrange

Once range day rolled around, the Stribog SP9 A3 proved to be rather ergonomic during testing. The grip design fits a wide range of hand sizes, instead of pigeonholing itself into a niche group of shooters who for some reason flock towards wacky grip designs, while its textured surface ensures a secure grip in all weather conditions. The placement of the controls is well thought out, allowing for quick and easy access without requiring the shooter to adjust their grip significantly, or even take their cheek off the stock to find whatever it is they’re looking for. The adjustable stock offers multiple positions to accommodate different shooting stances and user preferences.

This adjustability, combined with the rifle’s overall compact and well-balanced design, makes it an excellent choice for shooters of all sizes. The fact that it is relatively lightweight means less muscle fatigue and more time behind the trigger… never a bad thing!  Whether used in close-quarters situations or for more precise, longer-range shots, the SP9 A3 can adapt to whatever demands you throw its way.

When it comes to performance, the Stribog SP9 A3 stands out as both reliable and accurate. The delayed blowback operating system plays a significant role in enhancing the shooting experience. By mitigating recoil, it allows for faster follow-up shots and greater overall control. This was appreciated during testing, as the gun demonstrated impressive accuracy during our time spent at the 50-yard range, consistently delivering tight groupings. The rifle’s reliability is another key strength.

Range Reliable

Over the course of the day, it was able to cycle various types of ammunition without any malfunctions, crucial for both professional and recreational shooters who need their guns to perform well under pressure. Nothing will land a gun on the used rack at a local gun shop quicker than one that is unreliable … not a problem with this carbine. Speaking of reliability and accuracy, our range session saw a sampling of ammunition from none other than Hornady, Fiocchi, Remington, and Federal. While three of the four loads were subsonic, we decided to toss in a 115-grain wildcard for science. 

Included in this test were Fiocchi’s Range Dynamic 147-grain FMJ, Remington’s 147-grain Bonded Golden Saber, Federal’s 115-grain Syntech Range, and Hornady’s 147-grain Subsonic Handgun. While all flavors grouped well at our test distance of 50 yards, it was Hornady that pulled into the lead with an average group size of 0.80 inches. Nipping on the heels of the number one spot was Remington, with an average group size of 1.25 inches.  

After it was all said and done, the Grandpower Stribog SP9 A3 9mm rifle was a pleasure to shoot. Combining modern design with exceptional performance, its compact size, lightweight construction, and versatile features make it an attractive choice for a variety of shooters. The fit and feel of this gun are tailored to provide a comfortable and intuitive shooting experience. Whether for professional use or recreational shooting, the Stribog SP9 A3 is a well-rounded firearm worthy of being added to any shooter’s arsenal.

For more information visit grandpowerusa.com.

Grand Power Stribog SP9 A3 Specs

• Type: Semi-Auto; Roller-Delayed Blowback Operated
• Cartridge: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 30-round Magazine
• Barrel Length: 16 inches
• Overall Length: 26.0 inches (folded); 35.6 inches (unfolded)
• Height: 8.75 inches
• Width: 2.34 inches (unfolded); 2.83 inches (folded)
• Weight: 6.6 pounds
• Finish: Matte Black Anodized
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Flip-Up
• Trigger: Single Stage; 7 pounds, 5 ounces
• MSRP: $1,492.99

Accuracy Results

Every shooter admires serious power. It is hardwired deep someplace within our DNA. Don’t believe me? Before we dive into the formidable Barrett M82A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle, consider for a moment…muscle cars.

If the mission is simply getting from one place to another, then a well-maintained, late-model Ford Fungus with satellite radio and air conditioning should do nicely. The argument could be made that anything more is overkill. Then you get a look at a 1970’s-era Corvette.

50-Cal Power: The Barrett M82A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle

In case you’ve never had the pleasure, a vintage Corvette Stingray has no cargo space. It will also reliably render you deaf while simultaneously loosening your fillings. The climate control systems are perennially dysfunctional, and a guided missile cruiser gets better gas mileage. Regardless, I would still desperately love to have one of my own in place of my current sensible family funster.

That same weird drive to take everything to extremes pervades the shooting sports as well. It is undeniably edifying to pull in behind a nice precision rifle and print tiny clusters of contiguous holes at insane distances. That just strikes something primal in the typical marginally-civilized American man-child. However, if printing tiny holes if good, punching big, gaping enormous holes is so much better.

The Mission

Back in 1989 when Ronnie Barrett first marketed his eponymous .50-caliber anti-materiel rifle, he added a whole new dimension to the expansive pantheon of modern military weapons. The world was already covered in a thin patina of .30-caliber precision rifles that would put paid to the enemies of our great nation a kilometer or more distant. However, what if the enemy were hiding behind trees, houses, or cars? Thanks to Brother Barrett, how’s that working out for you nowadays? 

In military parlance, concealment is something that you can hide behind that won’t stop a bullet. Cover accomplishes the same end but is also proof against small arms fire. The mighty Barrett Light Fifty blurs the traditional line between the two. It takes downrange thump into a whole new space.

I actually saved up forever and bought one of these insane rifles myself. I can now see why Mexican drug cartels might hold them in such high esteem. This thing is just a freaking beast. 

No kidding, a friend and I were exercising mine recently. Our targets included a heavy thick-walled steel CO2 gas tank. My buddy center-punched it with a .50-caliber APIT (Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer) round and somehow set the thing on fire. That big metal gas tank smoked and sputtered for about two minutes before finally calming down. Umm, wow.

Origin Story

Ronnie Barrett launched Barrett Firearms Manufacturing in 1982 with the purpose of contriving a viable shoulder-fired semi-automatic .50 BMG rifle. Ronnie is an interesting guy. He’s not an engineer. He’s a professional photographer. However, he’s also a gun nerd, and he’s clearly exceptionally smart. 

.50 BMG is mil-speak for .50-caliber Browning Machine Gun. The bullets it throws are a full half-inch across. John Browning first thought up this bodacious cartridge and the legendary machine gun that fired it at the behest of General John “Blackjack” Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during WW1. The original mission was to bring down German observation balloons.

Mechanics

The .50 BMG round is basically a scaled-up version of the .30-06 service cartridge. This massive round is just shy of 5.5 inches long and fires a 750-grain bullet at around 2,750 fps. To put that in perspective, one .50 BMG projectile weighs more than a dozen M193 5.56mm bullets. 

The M2 HB (Heavy Barrel) gun that Browning designed to throw these enormous things weighs 84 pounds. In 1982, the prevailing wisdom was that it was physically impossible to build an autoloading rifle that could handle such a beastly cartridge and still remain man-portable on the modern battlefield. And then Ronnie Barrett did it anyway.

How Does It Work?

John Moses Browning really did start most everything. When I first pawed over a Barrett M82A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle I was struck with how similar the gun seemed to the classic Browning Auto-5 shotgun. The M82A1 operates via a similar long-recoil action.

At the moment of firing, the barrel and bolt recoil together as a single mechanism. These two components are absolutely massive. Cycling all that mass helps mitigate felt recoil. At a certain point, the bolt and barrel separate. The bolt continues rearward, while the barrel returns forward to its position of rest under spring power.

The M82A1 feeds from a removable ten-round box magazine. Mags must be hooked in front and rocked in place like those of your favorite Kalashnikov. As the bolt cycles it strips rounds semiautomatically just as one might expect. 

The M82A1 uses a standard M4 pistol grip. The two-position safety is under the right thumb as it should be, and the trigger is plenty nice for precision work. However, the rest of the action is fairly no-frills. There is no last-round bolt hold open. All this makes the manual of arms straightforward and intuitive. 

The long, heavy barrel is fluted along its length to enhance stiffness and mitigate weight. The muzzle is topped with a huge baffled harmonica muzzle brake. This rig very effectively redirects the gun’s prodigious muzzle blast to the sides and rear to help further decrease recoil. However, the experience of standing alongside the gun when it is fired is life-changing. That monster will reliably clear your sinuses. Ask me how I know this.

Impressions

So, what’s it really like to launch a 750-grain bullet at 2,750 fps off your shoulder? Not as bad as you might think. Ronnie Barrett did a really good job with this bad boy.

All that big, heavy steel cycling back and forth spreads the recoil force out over time. You can actually perceive the recoil cycle for a moment after you squeeze the trigger and the gun fires. Overall the experience is about like shooting a 12-gauge shotgun. 

Recoil really is not terribly unpleasant. Muzzle blast, however, is frankly amazing. Like blow crap all over the place and throw dirt in your eyes amazing.

I started out with relatively inexpensive GI-surplus ball machine gun ammo and was disappointed. Even the cheap stuff is still $3-$4 per round. At 100 meters I was getting 3-inch groups. Considering what I had paid for this rifle, that was pretty underwhelming. Then I found some of the good stuff.

Hornady 750-grain A-Max loads are the MAC-daddy of the .50 BMG world. Think contiguous holes at a football field. This stuff is undeniably spendy, but it delivers. With a competent spotter, I was on a 12-inch steel target at 1,000 meters on my third round. Once you get a feel for the gun it will shoot that straight consistently. It is simply that the A-Max ammo really costs too much to burn a whole pile of it at a sitting.

Ruminations

I first met the Barrett M82 back in the 1990’s when I was a soldier. The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams with which I worked used them to render safe unexploded ordnance from long distances. For range training they just drew 100-round cans of belted Ma Deuce ammo and knocked the rounds loose with a rubber mallet for loading into the Barrett magazines.

A buddy who was a sniper with a Ranger battalion in Afghanistan was issued a Barrett .50-caliber rifle but rarely used it. Nobody wanted to hump that monstrous thing up to the top of a mountain. Even broken down into two one-man loads, that’s a big ask. Additionally, they didn’t have suppressors for these massive guns. As a result, the noise attracted way too much attention.

My friend said that their .30-caliber bolt guns would reach out just about as far and were plenty effective against troops in the open. There was more demand for the long-range, hard-hitting, .50-caliber anti-materiel platform in Iraq’s built-up areas. However, nothing else carried quite so many cool points.

The Barrett M82A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle in civilian hands is a reliable crowd pleaser. The big gun costs as much as a decent used car. Additionally, you’re typically burning $5 to $10 each time you stroke the trigger. However, running a Light Fifty, particularly at truly long ranges, will reliably put hair on your chest regardless of your gender. It’s an absolute beast of a precision rifle.

For more info, visit Barrett.net.

Barrett M82A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle Specs

• Caliber: 12.7x99mm/.50 BMG
• Overall Length: 57 inches
• Barrel Length: 29 inches
• Weight: 31 pounds
• Action: Recoil-Operated Rotating Bolt
• Feed: 10-round Detachable Box Magazine
• MSRP: $9,550 (Rifle Only)

The idea of trying new things is always nerve-racking. I cannot prevent all the anxiety, adrenaline, and excitement that comes with it. However, if I take the steps to make myself as comfortable as possible, I have an easier time adjusting to stepping out of my comfort zone. I applied the same logic to shooting firearms, like a 9mm.

Shooting a 9mm For the First Time

Baby steps have been the best plan I could think of to warm up to shooting firearms. In the eyes of a beginner, firearms are new and foreign and need to be treated with the utmost caution. I began by starting small and working my way up to each caliber. 

My goal when shooting is comfort. I don’t care if I don’t hit a single target in the beginning—I just want to feel safe and comfortable. However, to grow, periods of uncertainty and discomfort can be necessary. I had shot a rifle and handgun—both .22 caliber—and felt ready to move my way up the ladder. 

The 9mm firearm looked no different than the .22 by design, but it emitted a different energy. Powerful, resilient, and protective. I knew as soon as I locked eyes with the firearm I had two options: let anxiety win or show my anxiety who is boss. I went with the second option.

Comparisons Between .22 and 9mm

Comparing the .22 to the 9mm, you can immediately tell the size difference, with the .9mm being the bigger of the two. Not to mention, .9mm handguns are louder compared to the .22. A .22 emits about 120 decibels, and a 9mm produces up to 160 decibels. While that doesn’t seem like much of a difference, it can be jarring, if not expected.

This poses a question: Does the size of the caliber make it more or less viable for self-defense use? The short answer is not entirely. Shot placement—where the bullet hits when entering the body—matters more. That doesn’t mean you won’t feel a difference when shooting different calibers. Likewise, there are some distinct advantages in larger caliber firearms. 

Smaller bullets mean less recoil, which is great for beginners. Stepping into a new, larger caliber makes shooting a bit more challenging.

A .9mm handgun is one of the most popular calibers for shooting and concealed carry. Initially, the idea of 9mm handguns invoked a sense of hesitation. However, they changed the game for me.

I felt like I was officially diving deeper into the gun world, and my gun journey was getting more serious. Suddenly, I felt like I was not just doing it to have fun anymore. I was doing it for a greater purpose that I did not think I was ready to conquer at first. 

Nothing was different in how I shot a 9mm and a .22. They operated the same, with the firing pin and all its mechanisms. Stand with your legs spread slightly apart, bend your elbows a tad, maneuver your hips, aim, and fire. 

The Pep Prep

I am notorious for guilting myself into things I do not want to do by telling myself I will regret it if I do not do it. The thought of sitting in anxiety all day long, being disappointed and regretful that I didn’t do something, is always enough to push myself past fear.

Like filling up my gas tank, I scold myself that my future self will be thankful the next morning if I go to fill up now rather than later. Nine times out of ten, it works, and I am happy I did it.

I have a method to my madness, and I applied that same mentality to shooting a .9mm handgun for the first time. Did I want to spend the rest of the day regretting that I didn’t shoot it? No, I did not. So, I shot the darn gun…even if I was scared. 

No Backing Out Now

While I stood there with the black handgun out in front of me, I knew I could not back out. I was already standing here and knew I could not let anxiety win. With one breath in and another out, my finger glided back against the trigger.

Eventually, it broke, and a loud boom rippled against the silence of nature. My seal of anxiety broke, and I was able to really focus on everything around me—like I had the first time I shot firearms. It was a feeling I came to love. The world appeared clearer, and I felt more focused.

I could not help but allow pride to boom in my chest. I knew I was getting more comfortable and confident around firearms. This was evident as I pulled the trigger back a lot quicker than my very first time shooting a firearm. I swear, my first time shooting, it took me like ten minutes of standing there shaking like a leaf while shouting, “I cannot do it!”

Two things happened. Relief washed over me at the progress I was making, and the reality of shooting 9mm handguns outweighed my expectations. I found that it was not bad at all. It was educational, it was exciting, it was safe, and most importantly, it was fun.

As I stood there, I could not even fathom why I was worrying in the first place. I had this expectation that the recoil would send me off my feet or that I would not be ready. But I remained firm against the ground and knew I could do it. I could feel the tingle of anticipation wiggle at my fingertips and knew the urge well.

I wanted to shoot again. And again. And again.

First Impressions of Running a 9mm

The first word I can think of is power. Strong, raw, radiating power. The power the .9mm handgun had was manageable, to say the least. But it certainly had a kick. Compared to the .22 handgun, it was a world of difference.

Even the size difference was immediately noticeable compared to the .22 handgun. The grip was wider, which gave my hands the advantage of a firmer grip. I did not have to fight for room to grasp the pistol properly.

I would have thought the smaller the grip, the better the handle. In fact, for me, it was the opposite. I liked the bulkier feel. It made me feel more comfortable and relaxed. I enjoyed shooting the .22 handgun, but the .9mm handgun felt safer. 

I knew it could do damage if I needed it to, and this firearm would do a good job of keeping me safe. It had a purpose, and I could only respect it.

I have never been one to want to get a CPL (CCW). The thought of the responsibility that came with concealed carrying made my stomach turn in a million different directions. I always assumed I would never be one to obtain my CPL. But the gears in my brain shifted, and I was struck with the realization I could do it.

The responsibility of having a firearm on me seemed more manageable now that I knew what it felt like to hold and shoot a defensive pistol. However, I know I have a long way to go before I step down that path. 

Rookie Mistakes 

Taking my hand off the gun was the biggest error I made when shooting handguns, especially the .9mm. The cartridge flying back at me left me on edge and startled me half the time.

Although this mistake was avoidable, it took a lot of willpower to push through the unsettling feeling. I had to force myself to get used to it and learn from it. Adapting and overcoming were my two goals. The more I prepared myself for it to happen as I shot, the more comfortable I got. 

I found the more rounds I fired, the less likely I was to remove my hand immediately after firing. As I aimed, I would move the gun at the last second. Similarly, when I finished firing, my hand would immediately move from the firearm. 

The best way to correct my mistakes is to practice. I know I will not become a master shooter overnight. That would take a lot of time and dedication on my part. However, the biggest lessons shooting teaches are patience and endurance.

Mistakes are going to happen. It is natural, especially when you are a beginner. So, it is crucial to be patient with yourself and encourage yourself to keep trying. I had to welcome the mistakes, be open to correcting them, and keep getting better.

I could have gotten frustrated and gave up, but in the end that would give me nothing.

Finding Confidence

I was not looking for perfection. I was striving for confidence. The ability to say, “I can do it!” and “I did it!” was the most important part of shooting a .9mm for me. When I left that day, I had an extra pep in my step.

I felt like I was on top of the world and could achieve anything. I was untouchable by fear, anxiety, and doubt. For me, that made it all worth it.

I stepped into shooting a new caliber, thinking the 9mm handgun was powerful, resilient, and protective. But I left, realizing it was me who was powerful, resilient, and protected. The pistol was just the key I needed to unlock that truth.

Who knew that realization was only a trigger pull away?

Whenever a friend or family member gets a new rifle, they always ask me what optic, accessories, or long-range tools I recommend they get. My response is always the same. “What is the purpose of your rifle? How do you plan to use it?” In my world of competitive shooting, rifles see use in multi-gun shooting sports, the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), National Rifle League (NRL), gas gun series matches, The Tactical Games, Proving Grounds, AK matches, and more. Meanwhile, non-competitors, including hunters, might take a shot on a big-game animal out to 400+ yards. And some people just want to shoot their rifles past a few hundred yards because they can, and it’s fun. So it pays to match your long-range gear to whatever your shooting pursuit.

Match Your Long-Range Gear to Specific Activity

Once you know the purpose of your rifle, you then need to match your gear to that activity. Regarding long-range rifle shooting, there are a few universal tools every rifleman should own. After that, I recommend specific optics, accessories, and gear based on the shooting sport (and division), the type of animal hunted, or long-range shooting goals someone has. My final piece of advice is that less is usually more. Find out what works for you and master using it. I’ve seen some of the best shooters overwhelm themselves with too much gear and not focus on their goal of hitting their targets.

Long-Range Shooting Must Haves

Kestrel Ballistics Weather Meter 

I recommend the Kestrel 5700 Elite for all riflemen wanting to shoot their guns past 200 yards. This one tool, with the correct information inputted, will do all the math and science to calculate what you need to do to hit your intended target. A Kestrel will measure wind and air density to calculate elevation and windage outputs. There is a lot more to this device, including the Applied Ballistics bullet library with custom drag models, Target Cards, and a Ballistics Data Table, as well as the ability to store up to 30 gun and bullet profiles and 10 saved targets. The weather mode of this device reads wind speed, temperature, humidity, pressure, and altitude. 

The environment you shoot in is a critical component that affects bullet performance. This is why you should always check zero (and re-zero if needed) when you travel to a new place with your rifle, capture chronograph readings to get your average velocity and confirm your data as far as you need to shoot. The Kestrel works with any gun or targeting scope and your choice of solution units (Mils, true MOA, Shooter’s MOA, or clicks).

Kestrel Holster

You’d be surprised at how easy it is to lose track of your Kestrel. I use the ConlanClanPrints Kestrel 5700 Weather Meter Holster to attach my Kestrel to my tripod, which is my “command center.” My tripod is where I mount my Kestrel Heads Up display, Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 15x56mm binoculars, and wind flag. I use the Cole-TAC Tripod Leggings with the shelf, water bottle holder, and brass bag attached, so I have everything I need in one place. The Kestrel holster comprises a 3D printed design custom-made to your tripod leg dimension. The best part is the mount can stay on the tripod while the holster can slide up and off so you can use your Kestrel quickly off the tripod. I also use the Kestrel KST1000 Shot Timer holster to keep track of it, as I use that timer for every shooting sport.

Chronograph

A chronograph and a Kestrel go hand in hand. Both tools are only helpful when used together. In my Chronograph Guide, I shared three of the top devices used nowadays, some old-school ones and a newer model coming soon. A chronograph will track a bullet’s velocity, which is essential information you must input into your Kestrel to calculate the elevation needed to hit a known distance target. 

A chronograph will also reveal information about ammunition, including an average, the spread, standard deviation, and minimum and maximum for all shots fired in a series. Whether you reload ammunition specific to your rifle or shoot factory ammunition, you should always chronograph the “batch” or “lot” of ammunition to test for extreme variances from one round to the next. If you plan to shoot factory ammunition, always purchase ammo in “bulk” or “lots,” so the ammo is as consistent as possible from round to round. If you buy the same ammo, say six months or a year later, that “lot” of ammo needs to be chronographed. Usually, the average velocity will change from lot to lot, and that small change matters in the world of long-range shooting.

Bipod

Every rifle needs a sturdy bipod with a way to attach it to the gun. For competition rifles, I recommend using a QD-style mount to take the bipod on and off the gun quickly. Most hunting rifles are limited in options, as the style of rifle usually dictates the compatible bipods. A bipod is an investment, but if you do it right, you should only have to make it once. Sturdy bipods built for long-range shooting can vary in price from $400 to upwards of $1,000.

With as much shooting as I do, I run one bipod brand to master its functionality. I use the same Warne Scope Mounts bipod for my ARCA rail PRS/NRL rifles as I do with my Picatinny rail-equipped multi-gun rifles. I purchased one of each interface to simplify my life so I wouldn’t have to use a head adapter kit to swap between styles. A good bipod for long-range shooting should have multiple height adjustment increments, retractable legs, a wide cant range, variable-width stance angles, and more. The easier and quicker you can deploy these functions, the better. MDT, Atlas, and Accu-Tac make some great bipods for long-range shooting, especially in the competition world, where you will learn to use a bipod for more than just prone shooting. 

Support Bag(s)

This is where “less is more” really comes into play. And here’s the number one thing you need to take away from this: YOU, and only YOU, can choose what support bag(s) work for you. A rear bag is crucial to eliminate as much movement from the rifle as possible when shooting prone. A solid support bag for shooting off props and barricades must stabilize, level, and help align the gun to the target. 

Bags must also be tailored to the activity, meaning hunting, competing, or plinking. Most hunters who hike in and out or stalk hunt for days will want as little weight as possible, which means a lightweight bag is best. For PRS or NRL shooting competitions, using a 10–15-pound bag for positional and rear support is normal. In most of my 3-Gun shooting competitions, I must start with all gear in hand, so a lightweight bag is the right match for that activity. I recommend Wiebad Gear fortune cookie bags and choosing the fill type based on your activity.

Range Finder

Every rifle shooter should own and know how to use a range finder. Most optic brands make a range finder, either a mono-handheld device or binoculars with a built-in range finder. If you don’t know the distance of your target, it’s really hard to shoot it successfully.

VERTX Overlander Backpack

When I started shooting PRS matches, I thought carrying that gear would be much easier than carrying my 3-gun gear. Less gear is required, but the weight difference between sports is astronomical. I knew the Vertx Overlander Backpack would be durable enough to use in rain, snow, and extreme heat and that it could be set on gravel, clay, and grass without damage. The amount of storage and weight load it can carry makes it the real winner.

Scope Matching

To match a rifle with the proper scope, you must know how you intend to use the firearm. These are the factors I use to choose a quality scope for the specific job.

Clarity of Glass

If you can’t see your targets, you’ll have an even better challenge hitting them. A long-range scope needs good, clear glass with a wide field of view. Don’t be the person who invests in a great rifle and skimps on glass. The clarity of the scope you look through will help you see your impacts on target, but more importantly, it will help you spot your misses to make corrections on the fly.

Magnification

The magnification level you need directly correlates to the distances you want to shoot and the target sizes. For shooting targets at a maximum of 500-700 yards in multi-gun shooting competitions, the 1-8 and 1-10 magnification level scopes will serve you well. For NRL22 shooting competitions, many shooters will start with a 3x or 5x magnification level and max out anywhere from 18x to 25x or 35x. The magnification for this sport is less used to see far targets but more about seeing tiny, quarter-inch targets 100 yards away. PRS scopes typically start at 5x or 7x magnification and max out between 25x and 35x.

Pro Tip: After years of shooting long-range targets, I learned never to max out the magnification ring, no matter what scope you’re using, the sport you’re shooting, or the hunt you’re on. When I use my 1-8x scope, I typically only go as high as 6x power. For my 7-35 scope, I rarely go over the 19x power. Maxing out the magnification range can limit your field of view, make finding your next target extremely difficult, and prevent you from spotting your misses. Always buy more magnification than you need.

Reticle

The reticle is just as important as the scope you choose. I highly recommend using MILs instead of MOA, but you should use whatever works for you. Some scopes have “tree” reticles that look like Christmas trees and are designed to make holding for elevation and windage quick and easy. An illuminated reticle is not as crucial in long-range shooting unless you plan to compete in night competitions (they do exist).

Scope Recommendations

Trijicon Credo 1-8×28 MRAD—I have used this scope in 3-Gun competitions for years. In 3-Gun, you will hold for elevation most of the time, and this reticle makes it simple to understand where the holds are.

EOTECH Vudu 1-10×28 SR5 MRAD—This scope is mighty! Its reticle is designed for long-range shooting, but it also incorporates the EOTECH illuminated circle to make shooting close-range targets fast. As we shoot further in 3-Gun competitions, I’m about to move to the 1-10x magnification level, which I recommend new shooters coming into the sport go ahead and start with.

Leupold Mark 5HD 7-35×56 PR2 MIL—This is my go-to scope for Precision Rifle Shooting and what I competed with in my first year of long-range competitions. The PR2 reticle took me a few months to understand, but it all made sense once I understood the tenths wind holds and the MIL increments and started impacting moving targets. For PRS, you dial many elevation changes for targets, but there are occasions where holding is faster, so it’s essential to know your MIL increment marks.

Zero Tech Optics Trace Advanced 5-30×56 RMG2—This scope is also built for PRS or long-range shooting. It is made of Japanese glass and is a first focal plane scope with an easy-to-understand reticle. There is a zero-stop function, a must-have in PRS, and the turrets are easy to dial and adjust quickly. The RMG2 reticle has extended windage and elevation on the “tree” reticle design, making it a good scope option for NRL22.

Burris RT-25 5-25×56 SCR2—Some shooters spend thousands of dollars on their NRL22 rifle and scope. Since it’s not a sport I shoot much of, I found a quality scope that was budget-friendly but powerful enough to do the job. The SR2 reticle has a “tree”-style reticle that is a must-have for shooting 22LR because of the frequent wind adjustment holds you will have to make. You can dial for windage, but having a tree reticle to make corrections on the fly when the wind changes in the middle of a stage is best.

Helpful Extras

I recommend a few final tools if you’re dedicated to mastering the art of long-range shooting or going out and competing. Having a quality set of binoculars will allow you to watch the trace of bullets as they impact or miss targets. I highly recommend a bubble or electronic level somewhere on your long-range rifle to tell you if there is any cant in the gun before you pull the trigger. Any cant in the rifle will affect the bullet’s trajectory at long-range targets. Gray Ops external weights are a must-have to balance out your rifle if it’s too bottom-heavy—also, the heavier the rifle, the less felt recoil and movement you have from the gun. This can affect accuracy for long-range shots.

Long-range shooting is an art form, but with the right tools and knowledge of how to use them, you’ll be impacting targets at distance in no time!

The recent assassination attempt on former president Donald J. Trump got us thinking about all the wild and unbelievable assassinations as well as attempts on U.S. presidents. Trump is, without a doubt, one of our nation’s, if not the world’s, most controversial and polarizing figures. How and why would a lone person risk their livelihood to take out such a high-stakes target? Some believe it’s just a difference in political views, fame, or notoriety the individual seeks. However, others believe MSM and or secret societies play a role in coercing others into these disgusting acts of violence.

How many of them are thought to be “inside jobs” in total? Criminal plots that are masterminded by evil-doers to help guide elections or world events in their favor. Or are we just suckers for good conspiracy theories, and it’s all just a bunch of random coincidences?

Master Assassin or Mastermind?

Are these Master assassins working alone with their crazed intentions? Are they Manchurian candidates programmed and controlled to go off at the right time in history, setting a chain of motions into events to push people toward a predicted outcome?

Assassination attempts on the President of the United States have happened quite a few times, from the early 19th century to the early 21st century. The first known attempt was on January 30, 1835, when Andrew Jackson was targeted by Richard Lawrence, who tried to shoot him twice. Luckily, both of Lawrence’s pistols misfired.

Besides that, three presidents were injured in assassination attempts: Ronald Reagan while in office in 1981 by John Hinckley Jr. and former president Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 by John Schrank. 

Many of these attempts, successful or not, were driven by a desire to change U.S. government policies. Mental instability seems to be a required ingredient in most of these attacks. And a few were admittingly legally insane, at least that’s what the federal agents assigned to the cases say.

Since the vice president, who takes over if a president is removed, belongs to the same political party as the current President, it might discourage policy-driven assassination attempts. The third in line, the Speaker of the House, is often from the opposing party, as outlined in the Presidential Succession Act.

Successful Assassinations

Four sitting presidents have been assassinated: Abraham Lincoln in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth, James A. Garfield in 1881 by Charles J. Guiteau, William McKinley in 1901 by Leon Czolgosz, and John F. Kennedy in 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald. 

The latter of the three has been the most scrutinized by conspiracy theorists around the globe for centuries now. The average American, without a doubt, has stumbled across a story or documentary concerning the JFK assassination and led down the rabbit hole without much coaxing.

The truth is that although there are master assassins out there in the world who are not dissimilar to the fictional ones glorified in today’s cinema, it is very difficult to prove their existence due to the assassin’s extreme secrecy. There is no sexism intended here, folks. Percentage-wise, most assassins are male.

Since they operate far above “street level,” verifying their existence is exceedingly difficult. They leave little, if any, evidence, no paper trail, and vanish from the scene immediately after the job is done. Only those who know how to contact them, hire them, or operate within the same circles know of these ultra-elite contract killers; however, for many good reasons, they aren’t telling!

Above The Law

Sometimes, threats against the President are made jokingly or for dramatic effect without serious intent. However, making credible threats against the President has been a federal felony since 1917. Often, we hear the statement, “We had him on our watchlist” or ” He has been a person of interest.” But if those statements are really true, then why isn’t law enforcement acting sooner? Careful now,. Slippery slopes lie ahead. Red flag Laws are nothing to be taken lightly, and most Patriots would agree that Alphabet Soup agencies already hold too much power. So, what action can be taken to stop these people from acting? Some would argue that this only lends credence to the facts of why they believe so many are planned “inside jobs.”

The Abraham Lincoln Coincidence

John Wilkes Booth, known primarily as the assassin who ended the life of the sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, was also a very famous and established actor. Like most of his family members, he took to the stage and performed for years. Booth had a reputation as a great actor with an income of nearly $20,000 a year.

Ironically, Lincoln watched John Wilkes Booth in a performance of The Marble Heart at Ford’s Theater about a year and a half before the fateful night of his death. Even more ironically still, Lincoln sat for that performance in the same box as he did when the shot from Booth’s .44 caliber penetrated his skull and killed him.

The JFK Assassination

Probably the one that receives the most attention and the one everyone has a strong opinion on is the murder of beloved President John F. Kennedy. There are more than a few conspiracy theories surrounding JFKs assassination, but the Grassy Knoll remains at the top of the list. Jack Ruby did not act alone. This theory mainly centers around a House Committee investigation that concludes there may have been a second shooter on that day way back in history. Who was he? Who was behind it? Where was the second shot taken from? So many questions.

Ever heard the one about the mob being hired to do the hit? There are numerous other conspiracy theories on JFK and plenty of documentaries to cover them all. Whether you believe it was an ice bullet, multiple shooters, or that the Cubans and Soviets were involved, one thing is for sure, something just doesn’t smell right. Every rabbit hole explored leaves us with more questions than answers. Maybe the fact of the matter is no one will ever know the real truth about presidential assassins, and that’s exactly how the powers that be intend it.

I remember reading an article in a car magazine when I was a kid. They took apart 10 identical Japanese cars and 10 identical American cars and then measured parts of the engines to see what was within tolerance. The engine parts in the American car were all within tolerance, but when they started measuring the parts in the Japanese car they thought their equipment was broken. The parts weren’t just within tolerance, they were identically sized down to the thousandth of an inch. I’m not saying Japanese cars are better than American, I am simply saying that for some companies, “good enough” isn’t in their vocabulary. Their goal is perfection, and anything short of that needs improvement.

Wilson Combat Tactical Ultralight

As a gun writer, I get to shoot hundreds of different guns every year at different events, most of which I never write about. But with that exposure, you learn a few things about quality. AR-15s have become America’s rifle and most of them run like a clock, but they are far from all being the same. For example, you can tell a lot about an AR simply by where it ejects the empty brass. Cheaper guns will run fine, but the empty cases fly all over the place. The better the quality, the more consistent the ejection.

I recently tested Wilson Combat’s Tactical Ultralight rifle in 300 HAM’R. While I was doing the bench-rested accuracy portion of the test, I kept hearing brass hit the five-gallon bucket we use to pick up the empty cases at the end of a session. I looked over and, purely by luck, I had left the bucket about 6 feet to my right and slightly behind me. It was catching some of my empties. I moved the bucket over six inches and after that, over 75% of the empty cases landed inside.

While that is an interesting story, it doesn’t tell you that the Tactical Ultralight is an amazing rifle. It does tell you that it is an amazingly well-built rifle. Tolerances are exact. Nothing is sloppy. Nothing is left to chance. It functions exactly the same, every time. Try getting the empties ejecting from your AR to land in a five-gallon bucket and get back to me. Was I surprised? Initially, yes, but then I remembered I was shooting a Wilson Combat. I expect that type of perfection from WC. Bill Wilson and his employees built their reputation for incomparable quality over decades and it is hard earned.

Drilling Down on Tactical

The Tactical Ultralight is almost identical to the Ultralight Hunter, which I have shot many times. First, it is ultralight and well-balanced for fast movement. The Hunter is 5 pounds, 2.5 ounces. The Tactical is 5 pounds, 9 ounces. The extra weight is primarily from the collapsible stock. The Hunter has a fixed, carbon-fiber buttstock. I love it when hunting hogs, but it is one size fits all. Someone who is very tall or short might not be as pleased.

Anyone who calls their rifle “tactical” has to assume the shooter may be wearing body armor, and that means you need a gun with an adjustable-length stock. Plus, a lot of people simply prefer that feature so they can find the sweet spot where the gun fits them best. The other difference is the Tactical Ultralight has a Q-COMP muzzle brake, while the Ultralight Hunter just has a threaded barrel with a thread protector. Because the 300 HAM’R uses a .30-caliber bullet, the barrel threading is 5/8” x 24.

Other than that, the two models have identical features. The Tactical Trigger Unit is a two-stage trigger with an ultra-short, ultra-light take-up, then breaks clean. The skeletonized bolt carrier is nickel boron coated for lubricity and easy cleaning. The thin, 10.5-inch forend has Picatinny down the top and M-LOK on seven sides. A short piece of Picatinny and a QR sling mount that both attach to MLOK are included with the gun. There is no forward assist on the upper receiver. I like having a forward assist because I have had rifles where after you do a press check by pulling the bolt slightly to the rear, the bolt would not fully go back into battery.

However, Eugene Stoner said the gun did not need it and if something like that happened, you could simply put your thumb through the ejection port and push forward on the large notch on the side of the bolt carrier group. Problem solved. I tried getting the Ultralight Tactical to stay slightly out of battery when I did press checks, but it always went right back in without assistance. I guess when you make things right, you really don’t need a forward assist.

Lightweight Package

So why do you need an Ultralight Tactical rifle? Because after you put a light, a sling and at least a red dot, if not a LPVO scope on it, it isn’t ultralight anymore. And if you are doing room clearings, sooner or later you end up being the person who blocks a hallway or the stairwell while the rest of the house is being cleared. Guns get heavy. An M4A1 starts life weighing over 7½ pounds, and that is with a 14 ½-inch barrel. The fact that the Tactical Ultralight shaves a third of that weight off is significant. No one carrying a gun long term ever says, “I wish this thing weighed more.”

The rifle is available in 5.56, 300 Blackout, and 300 HAM’R. Why did I chose 300 HAM’R? Because a tactical rifle for home defense or room clearing doesn’t need to be able to shoot out past 300 yards, but based on my experience of a few decades in federal law enforcement and studying countless shootings, it helps to hit harder than a 5.56mm. The 300 HAM’R is significantly more powerful than 300 Blackout, has relatively mild recoil, and it still comes in the AR-15-size platform. The gun I tested has a custom, gray base, Armor-Tuff Tiger Stripe camo pattern and looks really sharp, too. It is nice to have a good looking rifle, but Wilson Combat’s reputation isn’t based on looks. It’s based on decades of building firearms with tolerances like a Swiss watch.

For more information see wilsoncombat.com.

Wilson Combat Tactical Ultralight Specs

• Caliber: 300 HAM’R
• Modes of Fire: Semi-Automatic
• Barrel Length: 16 inches
• Barrel Type: Ultralight Hunter Profile, Match-Grade Barrel
• Twist Rate: 1:15
• Barrel Material: 416R
• Sight/Gas Block: Low-Profile Gas Block
• Muzzle Device: Q-COMP
• Handguard: WC M-LOK Rail
• Weight Empty: 5 pounds, 9 ounces
• Overall Length: 33.25 inches
• Fire Control Group: WC Tactical Trigger Unit
• Trigger Weight: 3 pounds, 3 ounces; Average of 10 on Lyman Electronic Trigger Gauge
• Capacity: 30+1
• Buttstock: Rogers Super-Stoc
• Pistol Grip: Mission First Tactical Grip
• Action: Direct Gas Impingement
• MSRP: $2,150

Smith & Wesson officially launched the next evolution of its wildly popular Bodyguard micro-compact pistol. The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0 put 10 rounds of .380 ACP into an EDC package.

Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0

The original Bodyguard received plenty of acclaim to be sure. Whether as a backup duty gun or primary EDC defender, the compact package proved lightweight and reliable. Now S&W aims at increased performance in a micro package with the 2.0.

“The Bodyguard 2.0 is a breakthrough new micro-sized striker-fired pistol from Smith & Wesson. Although small in size, the Bodyguard 2.0 has an impressive capacity, crisp trigger-pull, and exceptional controllability. The combination of new aggressive, but not sharp, slide serrations, and strategic texturing over the frame aid in the pistol’s superior performance leading it to the front of the micro category. The Bodyguard 2.0 is the micro pistol you have always wanted, and now can have,” said Andrew Gore, Handgun Product Manager.

The 2.0 brings increased capacity via a flush-fit, 10-round magazine and extended 12-round magazine. Pistols come with or without a thumb safety, while the gun exhibits an updated profile as well.

The Bodyguard 2.0 measures 4 inches in height, less than an inch wide and weighs 9.8 ounces unloaded. The design provides a more comfortable fit and improved control, according to Smith & Wesson. The pistol includes a striker-fired design and new flat-face trigger for better consistency and accurate fire. Out of the box, it ships with a black u-notch rear sight and bright, tritium-insert front sight.

For more info, visit smith-wesson.com.

Smith & Wesson Bodygaurd 2.0 Specs

• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Width: 0.75 inch
• Height: 4.1 inches
• Overall Length: 5.25 inches
• Size: Micro
• Overall Capacity: 10, 12
• Action: Striker-Fired
• Barrel Length: 2.75 inches
• Grip: Polymer
• Sights: Black
• Optic-Ready: No
• Color/Finish: Black
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel
• Frame: Polymer
• MSRP: $449

5.11 Tactical offers tactical clothes and gear that is not just about style, but about functionality and practicality. From rugged outdoor adventures to urban settings, our experts often seek gear that enhances their mobility, preparedness, and comfort while blending seamlessly into various environments. Whether it’s a durable backpack for carrying essentials on the go, versatile clothing that offers both protection and flexibility, or tactical tools that aid in fieldwork, these selections reflect a writer’s keen eye for detail and readiness for any journey or challenge. Here are our experts’ must-have items from 5.11 Tactical.

A/T6 Boots — Fred Mastison

​5.11 has been the gold standard for tactical wear since it opened its doors. Their offerings are extensive, yet everyone has their favorite piece of gear. While it’s a difficult task to choose just one, I too have a favorite. The 5.11 A/T6 boots have been my go-to work boots since I received them. Honestly, they see as much time in casual wear as they do at work. To say that I am tough on footwear is an understatement but the A/T6 boots have not even begun to see any noticeable wear. 

These boots utilize the 5.11 A.T.L.A.S technology support plate that ensures a cushioned feel and exceptional energy return. The most noticeable part of the boot is the echo foam impact cushion. This makes long days on the range much more comfortable. I am a fanatic about high-performance foot wear, and 5.11 delivers with the A/T6 boots.

A/T MID WATERPROOF BOOTS — Todd Burgreen 

While firearm, ammunition, rifle scope gets centerstage of many hunting articles, other items serve as important support functions.  The many miles covered on foot in Texas would not have been as comfortable with the 5.11 Tactical A/T Mid Waterproof Boot.  Think running shoes crossed with hiking boots.  The A/T Mid’s light weight is a pleasant surprise, especially considering the rugged nature of the footwear.   5.11 Tactical combines 3D molded TPR toe and heel protection, a welded/mesh upper, and high performance, high traction outsole.  The All-Terrain Load Assistance System (A.T.L.A.S.) built to handle your bodyweight with or without a pack also weighing you down.

BRAXTON JACKET — Joshua Swanagon 

5.11 Tactical sits at the top of my list of outerwear brands, making it hard to come up with a favorite item. However, living in Michigan, you never know what kind of weather you are going to encounter. So, I always have my Braxton Jacket with me. Its 92% polyester/8% elastane body is warm and offers light rain protection. The lightweight jacket is feature-rich with plenty of pockets—my favorite being the two ReadyPocket compartments and RAPIDraw CCW access. Overall, it offers a nice blend of rugged functionality and good looks that fit into any social setting.

DEFENDER FLEX 2.0 — Sean Utley

5.11 Tactical is without a doubt one of the best clothing and accessories companies going right now. Narrow that down the the 2A community and they are indeed number one. Nearly everyday my entire wardrobe consists of 5.11 gear from my shirt and pants to my socks and shoes.  While I love almost everything they put out, the new Defender Flex 2.0 pant is literally on point with amazing fit and comfort. They are tough, functional and I love the rear pockets for my mobile phone. They come in great colors too, just like their other lines of pants and range pants.  I’m a 5.11 junkie, and I never saw it coming.

JACKSON LONG SLEEVE SHIRT — Frank Jardim

I travel a great deal, and the two most important requirements I have for the clothing I pack in my suitcase is that it be comfortable and practical. The 5.11 Jackson Long Sleeve shirt works for me in the field and in the city. I’ve worn mine all over Europe, Mexico and Peru. It’s great for hot climates when worn alone, and cold climates when layered.

The fabric is 98% cotton with 2% elastane that allows a surprising amount of stretch which makes it easier to move. With a necktie and jacket, I can get a table for dinner at Casa Botin in Madrid. My favorite thing about this shirt is the Ready Pocket inside the left breast with a Velcro closure running vertically along the shirt placket. This is where I carry my passport and wallet when I’m overseas to protect them from accidental loss in the field or the quick fingers of pickpockets.

KUBATON PEN — Michael D’Angona

One item from 5.11 Tactical that travels with me daily is their kubaton pen. This amalgamation of both a workable pen and a practical self-defense weapon is perfect to take just about everywhere. It can come in handy if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Personally, I hold a second degree black belt in Japanese Ju-Jitsu and have studied pressure points using traditional wooden kubatons in the past. Having one made from modern,durable materials on me at all times is extremely beneficial. The unit itself is built tough, with an aluminum outer body and two striking surfaces. It can conveniently clip to your shirt pocket like a normal pen and function like a normal pen when it’s time to jot down some notes. The kubotan pen offers a handy self-defense option discreetly disguised and will always be ready for action!

LV18 BACKPACK 2.0 30L — Kenzie Fitzpatrick 

I can’t live without 5.11 backpacks or sling and waist packs. My favorite piece of gear is the LV18 Backpack 2.0 30L. I have used this bag for backpacking in the Smoky Mountains, as my range bag for shooting competitions, and as my go-to carry-on bag for flying. There is a dedicated laptop sleeve with a velcro strap to keep it in place. 5.11 includes a hidden velcro-compatible ambidextrous compartment where I always store a firearm when hiking. There is an expandable water bottle holder, multiple places to attach carabiners or gear to the outside of the bag, and, internally, smaller compartments for safely storing essential items. Best backpack ever made!

LVC8 SLING PACK 8L — Robert Jordan

I have long preferred the lower profile of a sling bag to a backpack. For years I carried the 5.11 COVRT Z.A.P. both on and off duty with a Glock 27, spare mag, badge, creds, cell phone, notebook, tourniquet and whatever I might need that day. These days the LVC8 Sling Pack is my first choice for everything from a plane carry-on (it holds my 11.6” travel laptop and headphones) to every day when I’m wearing shorts and flipflops and can’t conceal a gun on my hip. It is packed with pockets and organizational features. They thought of everything even down to being able to tuck away the 5.11 logo to make it extra low profile.

PT-R DAILY GRIND SACK — Reuben Bolieu

The 5.11 PT-R Daily Grind Sack Pack 17L is the kind of gear that seamlessly fits into the hustle and bustle of city life. It’s the perfect companion for daily commutes on crowded trains, where its slim profile and ‘high-speed low drag’ design mean you’re not that person struggling to squeeze a bulky bag into a tight spot. The main compartment is a black hole for your essentials, quickly swallowing up shoes, shirts, and the day’s necessities.

The external stretch pockets are a godsend for water bottles or that extra pair of headphones, and the webbing closure that doubles as shoulder straps? Genius. It’s all about efficiency and adjustability. Plus, the laser-cut loop laminate MOLLE-compatible panel adds that touch of tactical chic, whether at the gym or grabbing coffee in the concrete jungle. It’s durable, versatile, and has that 5.11 attitude that says you’re ready for whatever the day delivers. I dare you to catch me without it!

PT-R INURE RUNNER (MEN’S) — Frank Melloni

​The self-defense community is great at stressing the importance of weapons training, but when it comes to tempering our bodies to the same standards, we sadly fall short. Five-Eleven’s PT-R Inure Runners are the quintessential cross-training shoe built for high-endurance exercise routines. The INSITE footbed ensures your feet are properly supported, while the mesh upper provides the necessary ventilation to stave off blister-causing sweat. These are offered in two stylish patterns because, let’s face it, a good pair of gym shoes always finds use outside of the gym.

PT-R INURE RUNNER (WOMEN’S) — Madison Heim

When in a tactical situation one of the most important parts of your wardrobe is your footwear. The right pair of shoes will keep your feet protected, provide comfort, and be designed with durability in mind. When I go to the range, the footwear I choose to wear are the PT-R Inure Runner by 5.11 Tactical. These shoes are stylish, breathable, lightweight, and more importantly can be worn for long periods of time. Based on their comfortability and affordability alone, I cannot recommend these shoes enough. 

PT-R KAIA CAPRI LEGGINGS — Tiffanie Kluchnik

Working out as often as I do, I am always looking for a reliable pair of capri pants to wear. Pants that can withstand the squats, the running, and yes, even the sitting when it’s time to take that much-needed water break. The fabric is made up of 69% nylon/ 31% elastane jersey, 6.6 ounces., wicking and anti-odor finish makes for a very breathable material whether you are in the gym or in the 115-degree weather I experience here in sunny Arizona. One of the best features is the Side seam drop pockets that fit my phone perfectly, so trying to find another apparatus just to carry my phone is something I don’t have to think about before running. These are great to just throw on to go to the store or to the gym for my hardest workout. The PT-R Kaia Capri are definitely a must-have for me.

RANGE MASTER BUCKET BAGS — Garrett Lucas

A few years ago, I acquired several of 5.11’s Rangemaster Bucket Bags. The main bags are made of 1050D Nylon and have an inner bag made of 500D Nylon, and they have a 4-liter capacity. They’ve made transporting ammo to and from the range more convenient and a little easier with the dual carry handles on top. So, when I get ammo sent to me, I can prep the bags with ammo in the comfort of my home and move them to the vehicle. Once I get to the range, it’s quick work to get the bags on the line with no time wasted standing around in the elements busting open boxes and dealing with trash.

The Bucket Bags make it easy to keep ammo types sorted and easy to move from one point to another when I’ve got other folks helping out with reviews. I can put over 1100 rounds of 9mm in a bag and still be a couple of inches from the top. The bags are robust but lightweight so I don’t have the extra bulk and weight of an ammo can, and the open tops provide easy access to the ammunition. After having used them for going on three years, I couldn’t go back to the old way ever again.

RAPID OPS SHIRT — Mike Detty

When the cold winter winds start to blow the first piece of gear I reach for is my 5.11 Rapid Ops Shirt. Besides keeping me warm, the shirt provides comfortable 4-way stretch along with moisture-wicking, quick-drying performance while keeping me looking sharp! Constructed with a special blend of Polyester and Elastane, the shirt’s low-profile makes it the perfect base layer for winter wear by trapping precious body heat. Its wrinkle-free material does not require ironing and possesses an anti-order finish designed to keep you fresh. 

5.11 outfits the Rapid Ops Shirt with dual sleeve pockets, conveniently located at the biceps, for convenient storage of small items. For durability the elbows are reinforced, and the cuffs are easily adjusted with hook and loop fasteners. The pullover shirt has an easy-to-use ¼ zip center front and a tunic style collar. Warm, comfortable and maintenance-free, the 5.11 Rapid Ops Shirt should be a staple of everyone’s cold weather wardrobe! Available in Black, TDU Green and Dark Navy Blue.

RIDGE PANT & A/T MID BOOT — Alex Landeen

The Ridge pant was an update on the popular Apex line. Same pocket layout, including the IWB flex cuff tunnel, hidden cuff key pocket, and internal cargo pocket with magazine dividers. I have more hours in Ridge pants than any other brand or product line. Combined with The A/T Mid Boot, with 5.11’s A.T.L.A.S. System, Ortholite foam footbed, suede leather uppers and a high abrasion air mesh nylon lower, this has been my favorite work lower-half combo for a long time, as you can see.

RUSH 24 2.0 WOODLAND BACKPACK 37L — Barb Melloni

5.11 is a staple when it comes to my range gear… whether it be their ultra-comfortable Shella pants or cozy Donna hoodies you can’t go wrong.  I’ve been traveling lately, and my Rush 24 2.0 Woodland Camo Backpack has been put to the test.  This 37-liter pack has more pockets than I know what to do with. But boy does it ever keep me organized!  Spacious, feature packed, and showing no signs of wear despite me lovingly cramming it under my seat on four different flights. It has quickly become my go to travel companion.  Bonus points earned for the chest strap keeping things secure as I ran to catch my connecting flight!  

Being a Crime Scene Investigator, Death Investigator, or Detective can be exciting! You never know what will happen throughout your day, and work can go from slow-paced to full throttle quickly. However, these occupations can also tax and wear on a person mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

 Being a Death Investigator

One of the most complex types of investigations on deaths.
Death incidents are usually categorized into these types: Accidental, Natural, Suicide, and Homicide. None of these are any less morbid than the other, but suspicious deaths, such as suicide and homicide, can be challenging to handle. Even the natural ones may be sad, especially if the individual died alone. 
 
Suicide deaths and homicides are often more challenging to handle as an investigator. Why? Suspicious deaths are usually unexpected, sudden, and shocking. It can be surprising even as an investigator who may not know the decedent personally. A suspicious death investigation is much more than going to a scene, collecting evidence, and finding the suspect. There are emotions involved, such as family members breaking the news and friends and co-workers interviewing. Not only does an investigator have to process a crime scene with the decedent there, but they also have to speak with family members and potentially help them cope with the death of their loved one. 
 
These types of investigations can be a lot to handle. However, there are a few ways professionals and those coping with the death of a family member or friend can approach these stressful situations. 
 

Tips To Be a Crime Scene Investigator

Remind yourself that you are there for the decedent. It’s not about you. Especially in the event of a suspicious death, investigators should remember they are there to speak for the person who no longer can. 
 
If you knew the person, remember the positives. 
 
Leave emotion at the door when investigating. It can be easy to become overwhelmed at the moment, but remind yourself that you have a job to do and that you owe it to the decedent and their loved ones to do your best. 
 
Take breaks. Take your time with an investigation. This doesn’t do anyone any favors. Taking a break also allows you, as the investigator, to reset and regroup, and you may even see the scene in a different light, which will help the case. 
 
Try not to get attached to the decedent’s family. This may sound like a negative trait, but it is a coping mechanism for the investigator. Of course, contact with the family, updates, and follow-up calls are necessary. However, set boundaries such as only providing work contact information to the family and only taking calls during working hours. 
 
Give yourself time to decompress. It is not easy to handle death. Allow yourself some time to decompress from the situation. 
 
Seek professional help if the feelings of loss and being overwhelmed do not improve. Whether you are a professional in the first responder field or medical field, or you have lost a loved one, always seek professional help if you get to a point where you feel you need it.

Case Closed

Death Investigations are among the most important types since the person you are investigating is no longer able to tell you what happened. They can be intense and emotional, but they are also very rewarding when you can help someone’s family find the truth. Although they may not seem like a positive circumstance, there can be positive aspects that stem from these unfortunate incidents. 
 
The better an investigator’s first responder or loved one takes care of themselves when faced with this type of situation, the better the outcome will be.

In the last year, I fielded more firearms chambered in 10mm and .45-70 Gov’t than most other years combined. A sucker for a good comeback story, I always jump on assignments that look like a manufacturer is trying to bring back a classic. Having a suspicion the .38 Super might be next, it was no surprise to see a new introduction from Tisas in this chambering slide through my inbox—the Stakeout.

The Tisas Stakeout Multi-Cal

What was surprising was the company’s innovative approach and, of course, the signature paltry price tag. Technically an extension of the Stakeout series, the new Nickel-Plated offering is ready to sling not only .38 Super but plain old 9mm Luger as well. Multi-caliber 1911s aren’t anything new. But could a barrel and mag change be all it takes to run both cartridges reliably? I had to know, so I requested one for testing and tore it apart the moment it arrived.

Like most Tisas products, the new Stakeout arrives with a bevy of accessories. We live in a time when new guns typically come in nothing more than a cardboard box. So, it was refreshing to receive a pistol in a hard-sided locking case with a complete cleaning kit, a child safety lock, a printed instruction manual, and even a chamber flag.

A Finish Beyond Its Price Point

Pulling the gun from the case, I was bewildered as to how Tisas could offer such a lavish finish for this price point. It was utterly smooth. So much so that I needed the help of the cocking serrations to lock the action open.

Additionally, it was one of the most even plating jobs that I’ve ever seen. That takes time and eats into profits. However, Tisas is never afraid of the latter, as its business model revolves around quality. If your guns are built well, folks will keep buying them, earning you more in the long run.

For the gun geeks, the nickel is applied through the electroless process. This takes longer and requires more monitoring, but it won’t rub off the way electrolytically applied nickel does. In other words, it’s not made using the same technique as cheap gold-plated jewelry.

Since the process doesn’t rely on electrical current, there won’t be a buildup of nickel in the areas that conduct more electricity. This is why the aluminum trigger matches the frame and slide. They are made from 4140 alloy steel and handle the flow of juice differently.

A Build Befitting a 1911

The new Stakeout is more than just a pretty face, as signified by Tisas’s choices in materials and the process that turns them into the finished product. Alloy steel is harder to work with than aluminum, particularly after hardening.

Many manufacturers drop their manufacturing costs by making all of their cuts prior to the hardening process. This is because it’s easier on their tooling and allows them to churn out parts. The problem with this is that typically, more material is removed than you wish through flaking and overcutting. The end product generally has more slop to it and exhibits poor accuracy and reliability.

Tisas hardens the Stakeout’s materials before machining them. This yields a better firearm at the expense of time and more frequent retooling. The difference becomes apparent at the range, so I quickly started preparing for my much-anticipated live fire test day.

Feeding the Stakeout

Nothing excites me like ammunition, so a gun that fires two types is twice as fun for me. With that, I wanted to shoot loads that spoke to both the playful nature of each round and its use as a defensive tool.

Many USPSA competitors are using .38 Super to make major power factor. Careful handloads can push the same pills traditionally loaded into 9mm Luger to far faster speeds. Representing this in a factory load is Underwood’s 90-grain Xtreme Defender +P ammunition, which scoots along at approximately 1600 feet per second.

For this test, its counterpart would be Winchester’s 9mm Defender load. It takes a hard-hitting 147-grain jacketed hollow-point bullet beyond the 1,000 FPS mark.

For light target work, I grabbed a few boxes of Bill Wilson’s Signature Match .38 Super. It pushes a 125-grain Hornady HAP projectile at reduced speeds to pull greater accuracy.

Finally, Federal’s 9mm Syntech paired well with this as it follows the same concept. However, it has a copper-jacket-free bullet that is safer than traditional pills when shooting steel targets.

The Stakeout on the Range

I began my day by field stripping the pistol to see if any sort of trickery was inside to make it run both types of ammo. To my delight, there wasn’t anything too special other than what appeared to be a properly tuned recoil spring that could handle both rounds.

Swapping in the .38 Super barrel, I decided on 25 yards as my test distance. I expected it would challenge the Stakeout, but I was wrong. Using Wilson Combat’s Match load, I punched five-shot groups that measured as tight as 1.59 inches. This is amazing for a 1911 with nothing more than iron sights. Underwood’s defensive-minded rounds opened up a bit more but still grouped under three inches in most cases.

After swapping in the 9mm barrel, I found similar results with both types of ammo. The gun weighs 40 ounces, so there was no discernable difference in recoil. My only gripe was that the sights needed a little adjustment, which I carefully did by drifting the rear and then holding for elevation.

A Pistol Purpose Built for Reliability and Accuracy

Taking the Stakeout over to the steel pit, I set out to conduct a reliability test and run a few drills. Since the pistol is built to a standard full-sized government profile, just about any 1911 holster will work with it.

From concealment, I was able to drop controlled pairs onto a Caldwell IPSC in as little as 1.51 seconds. Both rounds landed in the A-zone. From here, I transitioned to Mozambique drills, in which the 9-round mag allowed for three in-between reloads. When it was time to slap a fresh one in, I found mags dropped free, and the slight beveling around the well worked wonders for guiding the new one home.

I ended my day with several mag dumps of all four types of ammo. There was only one failure to fire out of close to 500 rounds. However, I will note that this was at the very end of the day when the gun was in dire need of cleaning. It was also smoking hot and nearly void of lubricant at this point.

Tisas Gets the Stakeout Right

Wrapping it up, I believe that Tisas has a hit with this pistol. It’s going to appeal to the “utilitarian” crowd as much as it will the “fancy gun” folks. I’ll admit, I seldom consider procuring a gun based on looks, but the .38/9mm Stakeout is a stone-cold stunner. More importantly, it shoots as good as it looks, helping to justify purchasing pretty.

Is .38 Super going to be the next comeback kid? It’s hard to say. However, if guns like this keep hitting our shores, you better believe it’s going to be the next round in shortage.

For information, please visit SDSImports.com.

Tisas Stakeout Specs

Performance

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second, and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups from 25 yards.

Sidebar
ESS Crowbar Sunglasses

Just like the Stakeout, ESS Crowbar Sunglasses pull double duty. Off the range, they protect against UV rays, while on the range, they protect against spall, sparks, and ricochets.

Aside from being tough as nails, the Crowbar series features the Lens Gate system, which switches from clear to tinted as light conditions dictate. At the time of this writing, six different options are available to handle everything from deep cloud cover to blistering desert sand. This is an excellent product to stash in your vehicle. Especially if you never know where the road is going to take you.

For more information, please visit ESSEyePro.com.

Contrary to common beliefs, the most important thing a shooter can bring to the range is not a specific firearm but a specific attitude. To ensure you have a successful day on the range, here are six key attributes of an ideal range mindset that every shooter should practice.

6 Range Mindset Attitudes to Bring to the Range

Leave the Negativity at the Door

Believe it or not, confidence is a fundamental attribute for any shooter to have. Confidence allows an individual to feel courageous, helps increase motivation and can strengthen a person’s ability to succeed. However, nothing will ruin your inner confidence faster than the way you choose to speak about yourself. If you are having a stressful day or are struggling to get better at a specific task on the range, it can be easy to fall into a negative perspective and start nitpicking at yourself. It is important to remember that sometimes a successful day at the range is not one where you hit every bullet perfectly on your target, but instead it is knowing you had a fun time regardless of how you performed. 

It may not seem like it, but simple comments such as “I am awful “or “I can’t do that” do more harm than good to your frame of mind. Opinions like that will tell your brain you cannot do anything right, which eventually makes you begin to believe it. Switch up your perspective and leave any negativity about yourself at home. You are at the range to shoot firearms, not whine about how awful you feel about yourself. Focus on the positive, be thankful you are able to practice, give yourself some grace and watch how much better you will begin to shoot. 

Safety First, Fun Second

For any shooter, safety should be the number one goal and priority. Firearms have the potential to be dangerous, but thankfully this industry sets certain rules and regulations into place that can keep everyone safe from harm. It may seem like these rules can make the sport of shooting boring and stuck up, but it is actually the exact opposite. Following all range and safety rules allows embracing fun to the fullest extent. Rules allow shooting ranges to be a relaxed and calm environment that keeps everyone safe. Safety and fun always pair hand-in-hand in the firearm world, a mentality everyone must continually employ.

Embrace the Mistakes

Humans remain inherently bound to make mistakes. But rather than fear those mistakes, welcome them, as they give us an opportunity to be better. You are only setting yourself up for failure if you expect to have perfect range days. It is crucial you understand that you will and are going to mess up, and this is not something to beat yourself up about. Embrace the errors, learn from them, and remind yourself that you are only human. 

Prioritize Your Safety

It is your personal responsibility to prioritize your safety, and one of the easiest ways you can do this is through training. Training allows a shooter to sharpen their skills, learn some new ones and become a better shooter. It is a task that no one can do for you and something that must be accomplished in your own time. No matter the way you decide to train, the best recommendation I can give is to maintain a serious attitude. A shooter that puts the time and energy into their personal safety is a shooter that is better prepared on how to handle anything that life throws at them.

You Can & You Will

When you participate in an activity such as shooting, it is completely natural and normal to get frustrated. At times, this frustration can lead to doubting yourself which can negatively impact the way that you shoot. Regardless of these emotions, it is crucial that you recognize that you are not alone in experiencing these thoughts, because everyone has the same fears and doubts when shooting as you do. Anything you set your mind to accomplish, no matter how long it may take, you will. 

Your Best is More Than Enough

One of the most important philosophies that I can recommend every shooter to adopt is to never aim for perfection. Perfection is an impossible task to achieve and one that is setting yourself up for failure. The best way to succeed at the range is to practice often, keep track of your progress and, more importantly, try your best. Set achievable goals and accomplish them. Your best is more than enough, and you should be proud of how far you have come in your shooting journey.

Closing Remarks

Overall, one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to ensure you have a fun and successful time at the range is by maintaining a happy, positive, and safe mentality. This type of mindset can help you become more resilient to challenges, allow you to reach your goals quicker and help you become a better shooter. An easy way to correct these feelings is to gently remind yourself that you can achieve anything.

Find a place to shoot at nssf.org.

An ax blow to the head leaves Grant Kessler dizzy and staggering – and with a dent in his helmet. The 37-year-old is locked in battle with an opponent named Simon, and Kessler quickly gathers himself. He delivers a few strikes of his own, the ax clanging off his foe’s armored body. But Simon is one of the hardest hitters around. Ah yes, the sounds of modern-day knight fighting are really something to be experienced in person.

The battle lasts about a minute, but there is plenty of action in those 60 seconds. A massive blow eventually sends Kessler to the ground, leaving Simon the victor. While he may be down, Kessler will live to fight another day.

Knight Fighting 101

This isn’t a scene from Excalibur or Game of Thrones, and these two fighters aren’t trying to defend Lady Guinevere’s honor. Kessler is part of a group known as Full Steel Combat, an unscripted and unchoreographed medieval fighting group complete with suits of armor, battle axes, swords, and almost every ancient weapon you can think of. This “medieval martial arts” sport is growing worldwide, and guys like Kessler can’t get enough of mixing it up knight style.

“I was always kind of a nerdy kid – video games and RPG (role-playing) style video games,” he says. “That’s what got me into fencing originally, but I always wanted to be a knight, and now I have five weapons, a suit of armor, and I’m actually pretty good at it.”

Swords & Shields

Armored sports aren’t for the faint-hearted. While there are choreographed exhibitions at Renaissance fairs and other events, much of the action is real, and there are many real competitions and tournaments. Combatants don suits of armor and wail at each other, and competitive groups can now be found all across the country.

In these full combat sports, the goal in a match is to take an opponent to the ground to be declared the winner. Points are also awarded so that the fight can be judged if that doesn’t happen, like boxing but with swords and shields. The action can be intense, with blades rattling off shields, axes striking body parts, and the general rattle of the armor as fighters duke it out.

“It’s based on medieval tournaments when knights would fight between wars just to see who’s best or train to keep up their skills,” Kessler says. “The sport has just kind of slowly carried on through the years into a more modern version of what it is now.”

The Sport Called Buhurt

The sport is officially known as buhurt – the English iteration of the old French word béhourd, meaning “to wallop.” There is plenty of walloping in these modern-day matchups. But even in medieval times, Kessler says, the tournaments and matches featured rules and tournament structures. Today’s fighters also don’t have to worry about losing limbs as weapons feature dull edges – but those thundering strikes can definitely leave some bruises.

“Even the hits that don’t ‘hurt,’ it’s a lot of pressure,” he says. “It’s like someone punches you, but most of the time, the armor does its job, so you just come out with bruises.”

“Most of the time” are the keywords. These armor-plated pugilists can see concussions as well as torn biceps, triceps, pecs, and occasionally broken and fractured ribs, hands, and fingers.

“One guy had an ax go in between his gauntlet and forearm piece, and it completely shattered his forearm,” Kessler says. “I’ve had my hand ripped open, catching an ax to the palm. We get hit pretty badly. I’ve had it to the point where I’ve been tip-toeing several times. And I’ve had my helmet ring literally like the Taco Bell bell.”

TV shows and Fame

Kessler says the sport is growing, and he and some other fighters recently auditioned for America’s Got Talent. His crew is even featured in a promotional ad that’s been running on NBC. He remains tight-lipped on that as contestants are sworn to secrecy.

Another steel combat-themed show is also being developed and may be coming to Amazon Prime. Kessler says the show is similar to Ultimate Fighter, with real fighting in tournament-style battles, with a fighter eliminated in each episode. Another show was featured on the History Channel several years ago, and possibly more are on the horizon.

“It’s boomed big time, I’d say, in the last three to four years,” he says. “There were probably 14 teams at the International (competition) last year from all over the world.”

Becoming an Armored Combat Sports FIghter

Kessler grew up around Conroe, Texas, and may be typical of many involved in armored sports. He’s a married father of three and works as an inventory manager in the oil manufacturing industry. He also happens to enjoy the thrill of fighting like a knight.

There’s also some real camaraderie among those in the sport. While others may choose to grab a fishing rod or golf club in their spare time, Kessler prefers a steel blade. He fights for the San Jacinto Knights team in Houston, and competitions are held by several overarching medieval combat sports groups nationwide. Some teams have even built their medieval dojos to train and compete.

The competitions feature several categories of fight, including differing weapons to pound opponents, and jousts are even mixed in. Combatants are grouped by skill level. Even group combat mimics real battles, from three-on-three scrums to giant 30-on-30 clashes that might leave Mordred envious and ready to jump into action.

“​​It looks like a war, quite literally,” he says of the bigger throwdowns.

The High Price of Knight Fighting

Becoming a medieval knight is a costly undertaking. A suit of armor and a few combat weapons can cost $2,500 or more. Most suits are now made of titanium and a bit thicker than what knights of old wore. There are soft kits to practice with as well, and Kessler recommends training with a team before purchasing a complete outfit.

After taking a fencing class in college, Kessler now sees steel combat as a step up from that experience. It has also allowed him to step into the ring of physical competition. Wielding a sword and shield has now become his sport of choice.

Ready to rumble with some knight fighting yourself? Contact Armored Combat Sports or Full Steel Combat to give it a shot. Grab a sword and get in the game – don’t forget how to duck.

If you shoot any long-range, from competition to hunting, you need to own a chronograph to get accurate data to know what your scope holds are for specific distances. And if you hand load your ammunition, it’s imperative that you use a chronograph to find the average velocity, standard deviation, and spread of your ammunition through your gun to see how consistent the load is. If you shoot handgun competitions such as IDPA or USPSA, you will want a chronograph to test your competition ammunition through your competition pistol to ensure it meets the minimum power factor rating so you aren’t disqualified from matches.

Best Chronographs to Gather Ballistic Data for Long-Range Shooters

It’s essential to capture the most accurate ballistic velocity readings for your gun and ammunition combination. Yes, ammo manufacturers will share the velocity of their ammunition on boxes, online, or in catalogs. Still, this data is usually from one test barrel and will rarely match up to your gun’s data. If the ammo manufacturer tests ammunition with a 24-inch rifle barrel with a 1:7 twist rate, but you’re shooting a 16-inch barrel with a 1:8 twist rate, the velocities will drastically differ.

From Past to Present

There are some drastically different-looking and functioning chronographs today than over three decades ago. I remember the first chronograph I used was the Ballistic Precision Chronograph from Caldwell. It had what we shooters called the “bunny ears” to shoot through to get an accurate reading. Another old-school chronograph is the Competition Electronics ProChrono DLX. This chronograph had wire antennas like the Caldwell brand that you shot your bullets, arrows, paintball, or air gun rounds through to get a reading. 

With these old-school chronographs, you had to shoot through vs. now, where you shoot next to a chrono to get the data, eliminating the risk of bullet strikes. Nowadays, the antennas are gone, the chronos themselves have gotten smaller, and can calculate all the data you need to know no matter what gun you’re collecting data for. All chronographs have pros and cons, including what guns they’re most compatible with, if they can be used indoors and outdoors, and how consistent they are in picking up shots.

Top 3 Most Widely Used Chronographs

Garmin XERO C1 Pro

Let’s call this chronograph what it is: the latest and greatest. I’ve had a Garmin watch on my wrist for years now. I use a Garmin dash cam in my truck and the inReach Mini 2 when I’m out backpacking. Given how innovative and technologically advanced the brand is, it only makes sense for them to have created a chronograph. Not only did they make a chronograph, but they opted to make the smallest chronograph possible, in that it’s the size of a GoPro.

The XERO C1 Pro allows you to shuffle between bow, rifle, pistol, and more modes, tracking projectile speeds from 100 feet per second (fps) to 5,000 fps. The ShotView app syncs with the Garmin device to track your shots, measure deviation, and more. It has an IPX7 water-resistant rating, which is extremely important for what we all do – shoot outdoors. Let me break down the pros and cons of this device.

Pros

• The smallest, most portable chronograph on the market, easy to transport, pack into a suitcase or range bag, and go!
• Battery life is up to 2,000 shots or six hours continuously in use.
• It can be used indoors and outdoors.
• In my experience, this was the one chronograph that consistently picked up shot after shot, with no interruption or error codes, thanks to its sensitive and accurate sensor.
• The fastest chronograph to set up. There is no need to align it with a target or ensure your barrel is in line with the device. Just point it in the direction of fire and shoot. 

Cons

• The highest-priced chronograph on the market.
• While other chronographs come with carrying cases and mounting accessories, most everything you want or need will be aftermarket purchases.
• You must remember to recharge the device for subsequent use.

Learn more and shop at garmin.com

Aftermarket Accessories for the XERO C1 Pro

GrayOps Garmin XERO Mount Kit & Bump Cover

There are two can’t live without items, in my opinion, for the Garmin Chrono. GrayOps designed a Bump Cover that protects the screen and all the buttons. You can still access the charging port even with it on. GrayOps designed and tested this cover to stay on while the Garmin is in use and found that it will not affect accuracy or reliability.

As mentioned earlier, you will want to purchase aftermarket accessories for the Garmin Chronograph to set it up with your gun of choice. I use an ARCA rail for my long-range precision rifles and a Picatinny rail mount for my 3-gun rifles. The Garmin XERO mount kit quickly attaches to any Picatinny Rail system or ARCA Clamp with its patent-pending QD system. You can use the arm for side mounting to ARCA rails, which makes it super convenient to see your data out of your non-dominant eye as you shoot. You can mount the Garmin chrono to the side or underneath your handguard, on top of your riflescope if you have a tactical Picatinny rail scope mount and various other positions.

Range Panda XERO C1 Pro Case

RangePanda.com is an excellent store that sells 3D-printed reloading accessories, durable Insta360 camera magnetic hat mounts, case inserts for firearms, chronographs, ammo cans, and more. I travel and fly often, so I rely on durable hard cases with custom-cut foam to protect my valuables. RangePanda sells XERO C1 Pro case inserts for Pelican, Nanuk, Apache, Seahorse, and other popular brands that make hard cases. He can customize the inside, and since I use the GrayOps Garmin Mount Kit, I can customize my cut for the mount, arm, and clamp without disassembling it all before packing it up.

MagnetoSpeed V3

The MagnetoSpeed V3 chronograph is the choice of chronograph for die-hard riflemen. This chrono attaches to barrels and suppressors from ½ inch up to two inches in diameter. The V3 also has one inch more clearance in the blast zone to account for longer (up to three inches) muzzle brakes, flash hiders, etc. The MagnetoSpeed has a bayonet that attaches to the end of your barrel, muzzle brake, or suppressor that connects to a display unit via a connection cable. This chronograph can keep up with rapidly fired shots and give accurate readings from your rifle.

Pros

• The kit comes with your display unit, connection cables, thick and thin rubber V-block spacers, the Bayonet sensor with the heavy-duty strap, an alignment rod, and a microSD card + adapter, all packed into a hard case with custom-cut foam.
• Is battery charged (one 9-volt or two CR123s), which ensures your chronograph will always run so long as you bring batteries.
• The end user can get a perfect parallel mounting for their gun using the provided V-block spacers. Note: Use the alignment rod to check that the bullet will not impact the bayonet on the way out of the muzzle.
• Advertises up to 99.9% accuracy.

Cons

• The biggest con to this chronograph is you can’t use it for any handguns, shotguns, or archery use. It is a dedicated rifle chronograph, but if that’s all you shoot, this is the best tool for the job.
• If a bullet strikes the bayonet, you will have to get a new one.

Learn more and shop at magnetospeed.com.

Labradar V1 

For a long time, the Labradar was my go-to chronograph, but its performance has been far beaten by the previous two chronographs. This chrono can measure the velocity of rifles, pistols, shotgun slugs, arrows, and pellets up to 100 yards. Smaller bullets do not track as far as large bullets. The Labradar is limited to velocities up to 3,900 feet per second. It does feature a built in IPSC/IDPA power factor calculator, which is a huge bonus for competitors not to have to calculate this after the fact. You can use a micro-USB cable or SD card for data transfer.

Pros

• It can be used indoors or outdoors.
• Tracks subsonic, transonic, and supersonic projectiles.
• It has a large display with all the data you need, including IPSC and IPDA power factor calculation, if you need it.

Cons

• It uses six AA batteries and is the one chronograph that will eat batteries quickly. The Doppler needs full battery power to arm, so it’s best to purchase a rechargeable battery pack to plug into the unit’s USB port.
• It is one of the more challenging chronographs to set up. You need to position the chrono in line with a target downrange, lining up the top-notch on the chrono with the target. Your gun of choice must be positioned to either side of the chrono and aimed at the same target the chrono is aligned with to pick up the shot. The most amount of errors I receive when using this chrono is because my muzzle was too far away, too downrange, or too uprange of the chrono.
• You will need to purchase a tripod to mount the Labradar onto. There is no other way to keep the unit upright.

Learn more and shop at buymylabradar.com.

Coming Soon!

I wanted to mention a chronograph that is coming soon that I used and demoed at 5.7 Fest this year. Caldwell makes various chronographs, and this new one is lightyears beyond their previous models.

Caldwell VelociRadar 

The VelociRadar uses Chirp radar technology. Where other chronos track muzzle velocity, this chrono tracks bullets downrange, offering a complete picture of ballistic performance. If you’ve ever wondered what your bullet coefficient is truly compared to what your ammunition manufacturer says it is, this chrono will record that data. 

Pros

• It can be used indoors or outdoors.
• This package includes a premium ballhead tripod for shooting on a bench or prone. The ballhead pivots for proper target alignment.
• It includes a recoil-activated trigger that mounts on the firearm for increased reliability when using this chrono with suppressors or at indoor or covered shooting ranges, which affects the standard acoustic trigger’s ability to capture shots reliably.
• Compatible with the Caldwell app to remotely control the chronograph, create new shot strings, store, and name shot data.
• It can be used with rifles, shotguns, handguns, airguns, and archery. 

Cons

• You must remember to recharge the device for subsequent use.
• MSRP is $549.99
• I wish it were out already! HA!

Learn more at caldwellshooting.com.

Ballistic Data Dump

I wanted to gather data from friends and fellow shooters to understand how data differs from one gun to the next. A bullet’s velocity relies on its barrel length, the ammunition it uses, and even environmental factors like temperature (especially if you reload ammunition in a different temperature than the one you plan to shoot in). Bullet grain weight, the amount of powder you use, and more affect the velocity. Here are some examples of chronographs out in the wild tracking velocities across the U.S.

Cory Klemashevich using the MagnetoSpeed in Texas

• Caliber: 6 Creedmoor
• Barrel: 26-inch Proof Competition Barrel
• Rifle Build: APAC Chassis with an Impact Precision Action
• Ammunition: Federal Gold Medal Match 107 Sierra MatchKing
• Average Velocity: 3,119 fps
• Standard Deviation: 17.2

William Conlan using the MagnetoSpeed in Texas

• Caliber: 6 Creedmoor
• Barrel: 26-inch Kreiger Barrel
• Rifle Build: Foundation Genesis Stock
• Ammunition: 109 Berger Hybrid Bullets, Lapua Brass, H4350 Powder
• Average Velocity: 2,993 fps
• Standard Deviation: 4.4

Scott Newnam using Garmin Chronograph in Florida

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 5-inches
• Gun: Pheonix Trinity Honcho
• Ammunition: 124 grain Precision Delta Hollow Points, 5.2 grains Winchester Auto Comp powder, CCI Primers, 1.12 overall length
• Average Velocity: 1,111 fps
• Standard Deviation: 19.4

Paul Wilkerson using Garmin Chronograph in Oklahoma

• Caliber: .223
• Barrel: 18-inch Faxon Heavy Fluted Barrel
• Gun: Aero M4E1 Lower/Upper, JP Low Mass BCG, JP Silent Captured Spring, Hiperfire Eclipse Trigger
• Ammunition: 69gr Sierra MatchKing
• Velocity Minimum and Maximum: 2,880 – 2,900 fps
• Standard Deviation: 8-10

Brian Yip using the Garmin Chrono at the Leupold NRL Match in Oregon (~ 2250ft+ elevation)

• Caliber: .308
• Barrel Length: 24 inches 
• Twist Rate: 1:8
• Ammunition: Berger 175 Gr OTM
• Rounds: 73 rounds fired
• Average Velocity: 2666.6 fps
• Max: 2687.4 FPS
• Min: 2633.7 FPS
• Standard Deviation: 10.7
• Spread: 53.7

Same Gun, Same Ammo as Above, Chronographed in Washington (~ 600 ft elevation)

• Rounds: 40 rounds fired
• Average Velocity: 2665.1 fps
• Max: 2696.3 fps
• Min: 2641.6 fps
• Standard Deviation: 12.9
• Spread: 54.7

The cost of entry into the shooting sports can seem somewhat steep to new gun owners and prospective gun owners. Guns aren’t cheap, and things like ammunition and eye and ear protection can all put a dent in your budget. But once you have everything, you need a way to transport it all to and from the range. This is where good range bags come in handy.

Shopping for the Best Range Bags

To be sure, most new gun owners can get by with just a minimum amount of equipment until they’re ready to jump in with both feet. Still, a few things are pretty much must-haves for shooters. And a good range bag falls near the top of that list.

Of course, old Walmart bags can be used to carry your gear, and I’ve seen them used plenty of times. However, a purpose-built range bag keeps your equipment safer and helps keep it all together and organized when it’s time to shoot.

Types of Rang Bags

There are basically two types of range bags—typical duffel bag types and backpack range bags. Obviously, the difference is how you tote them around. If you have bad shoulders or just don’t like backpacks, you’ll probably want a regular range bag.

Look for one with solid carry straps and a shoulder strap for easier carrying when walking a great distance. For backpacks, both strength and comfort in the straps are important.

Regardless of which range bag you choose, there are certain things to look for in either type. Let’s take a look at a few of those factors.

First, you’ll want to make sure you choose a heavy-duty bag with some sort of reinforced bottom. You might only have one pistol and a box or two of ammunition now, but if you really get into shooting, you’ll be hauling several pounds of equipment with you to and from the range each time.

Buying a flimsy bag without a reinforced bottom will likely leave you frustrated and shopping for another one.

You’ll also want a bag with several different compartments. Internal compartments might or might not have zippers on them. But external compartments should have zippers so you can store your guns and gear away from dirt, dust, and other elements.

When shopping, be sure to test out the zippers to ensure they are of high quality. If you get a bag with cheap zippers and they fail, you might be stuck with no way to close the compartment. Or, worse, your gun or gear will be inside the ruined zipper, where you can’t get to it.

Also, double zippers on each compartment are extra handy. If one fails, you can still access or close the compartment with the other zipper.

What is the Right Size for You?

Note that you don’t necessarily need the largest bag on the market. A small, well-made bag will hold your gun(s) and tons of gear. Just consider the potential of adding more guns and gear in the future when determining what size bag you need.

Some bags have padded, purpose-built sections specifically for storing guns, and these can be very handy. Some have magazine pouches that make it easy to organize magazines for those with semi-auto firearms.

Smaller pockets are good for eye and ear protection, ammunition, and other essentials. Make sure you buy a bag with plenty of storage compartments so you don’t have to waste your time at the range digging around looking for different gear items when you should be shooting.

Duffel Style Bags

Now, let’s look at a couple of options from each style you might consider when bag shopping, starting with duffel bag types.

The 511 Tactical Range Ready Trainer bag isn’t cheap. But it will likely never let you down or leave you looking for more space for your equipment. Made from 600D Nylon, it features fully padded construction with a PE board base. It measures only 10 inches high, 21 inches long and 14.5 inches deep, and has plenty of space for your range essentials.

For those on a slightly tighter budget, the  Red Rock Deluxe Range Bag is made from 600D Nylon. It has a detachable shoulder strap and features a main compartment with several padded dividers. Measuring 17x8x12, the bag has handy hook and loop pockets and includes a built-in work mat. It also comes in three different colors.

Backpack Style Bags

While pricey, the GPS Executive Range Backpack is a top-of-the-line bag that will last for years of hauling all the equipment you will ever need to and from the range. The backpack has three separate removable pistol storage cases that each hold one pistol and four magazines.

Complete with a pullover waterproof cover, the bag has clearly marked pockets for ear plugs, shooting safety glasses, shooting targets, ear muffs, tools, and more to help you stay organized.

At a little more than half the cost of the GPS, the 5.11 Tactical Rush12 backpack will also get the job done quite nicely. Built from high-strength, water-repellant 1050D nylon, this multi-compartment backpack features a contoured yolk shoulder strap for comfort. Available in five different colors, it even has a built-in laptop compartment for those who might have to do a little work while at the range.

Along with a quality range bag, you’ll need a few other essentials, like a cleaning kit, targets, and tools. We’ll save those for another story.