I’m a big fan of AlienGear, eagle eyed readers and that one weird stalker fan of mine may have noticed I’ve written about the ShapeShift series quite a bit. So I was excited to swing by their booth at SHOT Show and check out the ShapeShift Shoulder rig. Don’t get me wrong I checked out […]
Reloading 101: Projectiles
Let’s look at the specifics of the actual loads, starting with the selection of projectiles. I’m going to focus on projectile selection for handguns as the process of selecting projectiles for rifle loads is a complex issue involving long range ballistics including topics such as supersonic, transonic and sub-sonic aerodynamics, not to mention the specific […]
Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma Kit: Be Prepared for the Unexpected
The Micro Trauma Kit isn’t the newest product offered by Blue Force Gear but it’s new to me. This is a great kit that should be part of the basic equipment issued to police officers. The Micro Trauma Kit offers an advanced kit and a basic kit. Without the special training and skills, the advanced kit has items that wouldn’t be helpful to some.
Remington Brings back the Witness Protection 870
I’ve always been fascinated with the US Marshal’s service, their long history, and unique mission. Maybe it was too much Elmore Leonard as a kid. Combine the Marshals with one of my favorite platforms, the shotgun, and you have a match made in paradise. The Witness Protection 870, or WP870 came to be in the […]
Hands on with the Tavor TS 12 – SHOT Show 2018
SHOT Show’s industry range day is a spectacle to behold. It’s massive, well organized, and filled to the brim with guns you can see, handle, and of course fire. Best of all, its someone else’s ammo. One gun I’d been really wanting to get my hands on is the Tavor TS 12. The Tavor TS […]
How Guns Work: Blowback Operation
Blowback operation is only one manner of making a gun fire, but it is interesting in its simplicity. It is a style seen in some older guns, like Bond’s Walther PPK or in the Colt Hammerless 1908. The method of blowback function impacts both firearm design and performance. With the blowback style of operation, the […]
IcePlate Under Armor: The Science Behind Hydration, Heating and Cooling
Heat casualties are a critical problem for body armor users. The “IcePlate” is a SAPI plate-shaped reusable water bottle that when frozen provides 140+ watts of cooling using the 100 ounces of water already carried by war fighters to maximize hydration efficiency beyond simple consumption. The IcePlate helps body armor users stay safer, lighter, more […]
The 50 States of AR-15: Illinois Rifle Build (Manticore Arms, R-Guns, DR Guns, BAT Arms)
Many people are unaware there are many great Illinois base manufacturers. Some of the larger names include Springfield Armory, Armalite, Rock River Arms, and more. The Illinois rifle, includes components from BAT Arms (Our Sponsoring FFL), DR Guns, Manticore Arms, & R-Guns. This build was based around assembling a modern style civilian M4, a rifle […]
A Magfed Mossberg? – The Mossberg 590M
Remington and Mossberg seem to be trading blows left and right when it comes to their classic shotgun platforms. Last year it was the Shockwave versus the Rem Tac 14. This year it seems to be a battle of the mag fed pump action shotguns. Remington came out first with their 870DM, and Mossberg followed […]
3rd Ranger Battalion & The Big Four
Growing up in 3rd Ranger Battalion, the Big Four were constantly stressed and evaluated throughout all phases of training. These skills were how the Regiment plied their trade and were the backbone of the unit’s training and mission execution. If you couldn’t keep up physically you got smoked until you thought your eyes were going to […]