32

Is s u e 12

Features
32 Carbon Finer
Lancer Builds a Race-Ready
.308-Caliber AR
48
48 SelF-relianCe
Find an 80-Percent Lower
You Fancy so You Can Build
Your Very Own AR

60 iS it legal?
Yep, 80-Percent Lowers Are
100-Percent Kosher

64 old iS new again

Remington Resurrects a WWI
Design With the R51. George 64 86
Patton Would Approve.
112
86 blowout
How to Buy or Build a Better
Individual First-Aid Kit

112 a new legend

Alexander Arms Ulfberht
Semiauto .338 Lapua:
More Fun Than Calling
in an Airstrike

120 an aK Shotgun
that worKS?
These Smoothbores Have a Cult
Following Among Those Who
Know Enough Voodoo to Get
Them to Work. Molot Vepr-12
Needs Less Black Magic Than
Most.
120
128 talKin’ ’bout 128
My generation
POF’s Gen-4 Carbine is
Accurate, Ergonomic,
and Runs Like a Sewing
Machine
 MISFIRES
In Issue 10, we incorrectly listed the bright-
Is s u e 12 ness index for JP Enterprises’ JPoint on Page
74. Its brightness index is 10. Also, in Issue
11, we incorrectly listed the price of LWRC’s
Departments Six8 IC-PDW on Page 6. Its MSRP is $2,300.
We apologize for any inconvenience these
typos might have caused.
8 On the COver 136 pt
A Former Delta Operator Shows
10 DOwnrange You How to Build Strength, Not FIREARM SAFETY
Editor’s Letter Muscles IS TOP PRIORITY
RECOIL reminds you to be safe and always obey
14 InCOmIng 142 shtF firearms safety rules:
New Gear Five Methods of Signaling that 1. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
Can Save Your Life 2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe
direction.
16 vIsIt
National World War II Museum 149 wanna traDe 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready
patChes? to fire.
4. Be aware of your target’s foreground and
22 transpOrt background.
Bulletproof Toyota Tundra 154 gOIng hOt All contents in RECOIL Magazine are profes-
sionally photographed in a closed studio
28 UnUsUal sUspeCts or range. Do not attempt to recreate any
Small Pocket Knives photographs depicted in this magazine.

40 DIY
Complete Your Own 80-Percent
PROducT dISclAIMER
Prices and details for items featured in RECOIL
AR-15 Lower Receiver
are set by the manufacturers and retailers,
and are subject to change without notice.
94 ZerOeD In
Julie Golob
RECOIL, May/June 2014; Number 12, is
published bimonthly by Source Interlink
Media, LLC, 261 Madison Avenue, 6th floor,
New York, NY 10016. Copyright © 2014 by
Source Interlink Magazines, LLC. All Rights
Reserved. Application to mail at Periodicals
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MILITARY FACILITIES: send address changes
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32142-0235. Please allow 8-10 weeks for
delivery of first issue. No part of this book may
be reproduced without written permission.
This book is purchased with the understanding
that the information presented herein is from
many varied sources for which there can be no
warranty or responsibility by the publisher as
to accuracy or completeness.

Throughout this issue you will see certain

images are labeled as being 1:1 Actual Size.
This designation is for the print edition of this
issue. Because of the various screen sizes on
different tablets and computers, we cannot
always provide actual life size images in digital
versions. We apologize if this causes any con-
fusion and thank you for your understanding.
TUNGSTEN SCYTHE REPR
» 7.62x51mm NATO / .308 Winchester
» 14.7” Spiral Fluted Barrel w/ SureFire Brake
» Geiselle SSA Trigger
» Tungsten Cerakote Finish
» Available Exclusively at RifleGear
 On the COver 01 CarBine
Make:
03 MOUnt
Brand:
05 Plate
Carrier
07 Shirt
Brand:
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Cover Photo by Henry Z. De Kuyper

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02 SCOPe 04 rifle 06 rifle 08 Belt

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01

02 04

05 03

07

08
06
 Off Camera
09 PantS 11 Knife 13 PiStOl 15 PiStOl 16 eye 17 ear 18 fOOtwear
Brand: Brand: Brand: magazine PrOteCtiOn PrOteCtiOn Brand:
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10 watCh 12 glOveS 14 hOlSter

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com shop.blade-tech.com

09
10

is su e
12
13 14 009

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
15 18

16

17
 By IaIn HarrIson

Why might this be important? Con-

sider that rabidly anti-gun California
State Senator Kevin de León — a man
no doubt intimately familiar with the
taste of school bus windows — has
recently gone on his own little crusade
to ensure all such frearms in the state
are registered with the Department of
Justice. Quite how this measure would
impact frearms crime is left unstated,
mainly because like most gun-control
measures, it’s not about illegal guns or
actually reducing crime, but rather all
about control. If you’re in any doubt,
try this exercise. Email a friend across
town the model and serial number of
one of your guns. Now ask him or her,
using only the information you provid-
ed, to prevent you from doing anything
with that weapon. You don’t need to
be a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist to
recognize the alternative uses of this
information in the hands of government
In this issue we examine whether an AK-based shotgun can actually perform, offcials.
get hands on with Remington’s new single-stack 9mm, try to break POF’s Gen-4 Having already had one government
piston AR (spoiler alert: we failed), and look at what to do if you can’t get to your confscate my legally held frearms,
self-defense gun before a bad guy smacks you upside the melon. I’m not particularly disposed to let it
In other news, we look at the subject of manufacturing your own frearm — happen again. So go ahead, roll your
specifcally, making an AR-15 receiver from an 80-percent lower. As far as I’m own, and strike a preemptive blow for
aware, RECOIL is the frst print publication to touch the subject, and I’ll leave bet- freedom. Then go reread the “DIY” in
ter minds than mine to speculate as to why this might be. After all, making things RECOIL Issue #6 and build a kick-
from scratch should appeal directly to the rugged individualist in most Americans, ass upper, slap the two together, and
and the fact that you can legally build your own rife without the federal govern- proudly take it to the range.
ment poking its nose in is an added bonus. Cheers,
 BENCHMADE.COM

Editorial. Advertising.
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K N I F E C O M P A N Y

USA PROUD
©2014 BENCHMADE KNIFE CO.
OREGON CITY, OR, USA
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Do you fancy yourself a modern-
day samurai? Then the Obake,
designed by Lucas Burnley,
might be your go-to fxed blade.
The 3.64-inch blade is made of
8Cr14MoV stainless steel with
a titanium-nitride fnish that’s
acid-etched, giving each knife a
unique pattern. Overall, the Obake
is 7.63 inches long and just 2.4
ounces. Comes with a glass-flled
nylon sheath.
Brand:
Columbia River Knife & Tool
Model:
Obake
MSrP:
$60
Url:
www.crkt.com
1 MSrP:
Though spring is technically upon
us, the nights can still be chilly
— and there might even be some
stubborn snow on the ground in
your region. So, the Icon Softshell
Vest is a good ft for this season.
It keeps your core protected from
wind and rain without suffocating
you when the sun’s out. Available
in black, khaki, LAPD navy, and
olive.
Brand:
Propper International
Model:
Icon Softshell Vest
MSrP:
$60
Url:
www.epropper.com
5
Short for “Under Cover,” the
U.C. Stealth is the latest holster
from zZz Custom Works. This
U.S.-made, inside-the-waistband
holster is made of 0.080-inch
Kydex and compatible with most
popular handguns from numerous
companies, including Glock, SIG
SAUER, and Springfeld. Its single
fxed belt loop fts up to 1.5-inch
belts (plans for a 1.75-inch loop
is in the works). It comes in black,
but more than a dozen other
colors are available at additional
costs. Plans include making it
available with a magazine pouch
for $85.
Brand:
zZz Custom Works
Model:
U.C. Stealth
$50
Url:
www.zzzcustomholsters.com
In this age of high-tech crime,
protecting your personal info is
just as vital as locking your doors.
The Under the Radar Laptop
Security Pouch blocks incom-
ing and outgoing signals and
shields from unwanted reading
of RFID data found in passports,
credit cards, and driver’s licenses.
Made of 1,050-denier nylon with
electromagnetic interior lining and
available for 13-, 15-, and 17-inch
laptops.
Brand:
BLACKHAWK!
Model:
Under the Radar Laptop Security
Pouch
MSrP:
$45
Url:
www.blackhawk.com
Looking like a chopped up vacuum
hose, the Manta Suppressor
Sleeve is actually a melt-proof
cover for your suppressor,
protecting end users from ac-
cidental burns while reducing
IR signatures. The 7-inch sleeve
is designed to cover 1.5-inch-
diameter cans, covering most
.223, .300, 5.56mm, and 7.62mm
suppressors. This badass sleeve
is made in the United States and
available in black, camo, fat dark
earth, and olive drab.
Brand:
Manta
Model:
Suppressor Sleeve
MSrP:
$65
Url:
www.manta.us
If you’ve ever dropped your smart-
phone, you know the importance
of one key piece of kit: the case.
Magpul’s Field Case is made of
durable, semi-rigid thermoplastic
that provides protection without
being too bulky. This U.S.-made
case features low-profle, PMAG-
style ribs for added grip and a
snap-on design for easy instal-
lation and removal. Available for
multiple generations of Samsung
and Apple phones, including the
Galaxy S 4 and iPhone 5s.
Brand:
Magpul
Model:
Field Case
MSrP:
Varies
Url:
store.magpul.com
6
When your pants need to be more
than just a pair of nut covers, the
Force 10 RS Cargo Pant fts the
bill. It’s designed for unrestricted
movement, treated with durable
water repellent, and made of a
ripstop blend of nylon and cotton
(balancing breathability, comfort,
and durability). There are also
plenty of pockets for fashlights,
magazines, and EDC gear, and
it can accommodate kneepads.
Available in brown, gray, and
green.
Brand:
Triple Aught Design
Model:
Force 10 RS Cargo Pant
MSrP:
$119
Url:
store.tripleaughtdesign.com
10
More ammo is a good thing, right?
The new PMAG basepads from
Taran Tactical Innovations allow
you to add capacity in exchange
for a teensy increase in overall
length. Slap one on a 40-rounder
and you’ll ft 46 rounds into the
mag using the standard spring
and follower. And we like that.
Brand:
Taran Tactical Innovations
Model:
TTI Firepower PMAG Magazine
Extension
MSrP:
$40 each (discounts for three-
pack and fve-packs)
Url:
www.tarantacticalinnovations.com
The Gamma from VG6 Precision is
a muzzle brake and compensator
hybrid that’s available for both
5.56mm (1⁄2-inch by 28) and .300
BLK (5⁄8-inch by 24) and adds
minimal length to your barrel.
Machined from nitrided stainless
steel, it offers effective recoil
control and a long service life.
Brand:
VG6 Precision
Model:
Gamma
MSrP:
$84
Url:
www.vg6precision.com
8
If you’re like us, you’re always dig-
ging around in the bottom of your
range bag for a wrench, or fshing
for a dime to adjust your scope.
The Combat Optic Tool Optimized
has all the bases covered for
most popular scopes and mounts,
including ACOGs, Aimpoints, and
anything that uses a 1⁄2-inch nut.
Oh, and it has a bottle opener,
too. Made of stainless steel in the
United States.
Brand:
Patriot Products AZ, LLC
Model:
Combat Optic Tool Optimized
MSrP:
$20
Url:
www.robarguns.com
Is su e
12
015
Rec o Ilw e b .c o m
 12
is su e

016
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

Photo courtesy of The National World War II Museum

The NawliNs
CoNNeCTioN
The Big easy is home To The NaTioNal World War ii museum, Which FeaTures
aN array oF Firearms, Vehicles, aNd sTaTe-oF-The-arT exhiBiTs

By Peter Suciu

Dedicated to the Greatest Generation, the National world war ii museum

in New orleans chronicles the story of the American G.i. during the second
world war. it features galleries devoted to D-Day, the war at home, and the
war in the Pacifc through artifacts, personal tales, and even cutting-edge
technology.
when it frst opened on June 6, 2000, on the 56th anniversary of the

is su e
D-Day landings, the National D-Day museum — as it was then known — ini-
tially focused on the amphibious invasion of Normandy. The choice of New

12
orleans as the site for the facility was seen as odd by some, considering it’s
known more for its food, music, and nightlife than world war ii. on the topic
of war history, most would connect the big easy with the battle of New or-
017
leans at the end of the war of 1812 or as the frst major occupied southern

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
city during the American civil war.
However, the city does have a strong link to the second world war, and
most notably the Normandy invasion. The Higgins boats, which were vital to
the D-Day operations, were designed, built, and tested in New orleans by
Higgins industries — this was the crucial piece in determining a home for
the project. moreover, New orleans was the home of noted historian stephen
Ambrose, who had spearheaded efforts to push for the construction of the
museum. with such ties, and the fact that the united states had no offcial
world war ii museum, New orleans seemed an ideal spot.
 The NawliNs CoNNeCTioN

Photo courtesy of The National World War II Museum

Like Time TraveL 1
located in the central business Dis-
trict, the facility was designated by the
u.s. congress in 2003 as “America’s
National world war ii museum.” Today
it maintains a lasting affliation with
the smithsonian institution. it also
endured tragedy, as it — like much of
12

the region — was affected by Hurri-

1. Clockwise, starting
is su e

cane Katrina, which ravaged New or- from the top left: M3
leans in the fall of 2005. As a result, “Grease Gun,” M1
the museum was actually closed for Garand with grenade
018 more than two months. when the mu-
launcher, M1 carbine,
Browning Automatic
seum reopened, offcials proclaimed, Rife, and Thompson
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

“we Have Returned,” evoking General submachine gun.

Douglas macArthur and his vow and
eventual return to the Philippines. 2 3
Visiting the attraction is akin to step- 2. An American “Lee”
Light Tank.
ping back in time. The main hall’s cur-
rent collection features world war ii-era
vehicles, such as a u.s. Army Jeep and
3. A water-cooled
Half-Track. From the ceiling hang sev- Browning .30-caliber
eral aircraft, including a supermarine machinegun. It saw
spitfre, messerschmitt bf 109, and much use in the early
stages of the war in
a Douglas c-47 skytrain — the latter
the Pacifc, as well as
being the main transport aircraft that North Africa.
was used to deliver paratroopers to Nor-
mandy on D-Day. 4
The main attraction in the louisiana 4. The “Knuckle
Duster” combat knife
memorial Pavilion is, of course, the re-
remained popular
production of the lcVP — the landing with airborne troops
craft Vehicle Personnel or Higgins boat. during World War II.
It appears next to
it was this type of craft, built in New or-
the “Cricket,” which
leans, which carried thousands of Allied was used to iden-
soldiers to the beaches of Normandy on tify friendly troops by
June 6, 1944. This particular full-scale “clicking” and waiting
for a response.
replica was built utilizing original world
 The nAwLins ConneCTion

War II plans. More than 100 volunteers, 1. Japanese small 1

including former employees of A.J. Hig- arms: the Arisaka
Type 38 and Type 99
gins, Inc., the New Orleans shipbuilding rifes and Type 99
company, helped recreate this craft. light machinegun, as
well as a collection of
grenades, the Nambu
Veteran Focused
pistol, and shin-gunto
Within the museum are specifc gal- swords (often errone-
leries devoted to aspects of the Second ously referred to as
World War, including the major cam- “samurai swords”).

paigns as well as the home front and

the changing mood in America. Unlike 2. Japanese Type 92
heavy machinegun,
many other military museums around
nicknamed the “wood-
the world, what also makes the National pecker” because of
World War II Museum collection really the characteristic 3
sound it made when
stand out is that many of the artifacts
fred.
are tied to specifc individuals.
The museum takes great pride in
3. While the museum
presenting items that have come direct- originally focused 2
ly from veterans of the Second World on D-Day and the
War, something that does in fact remain campaign in Europe,
it now includes many
4
unique for a museum of this size. In
items from the Pacifc,
12

fact, it collects memorabilia from all such as this display of

is su e

branches of service and from all ranks, the Japanese uniform

and rife.
ensuring that it represents the diverse
stories of the American G.I. and his
020 very personal experiences during WWII. 4. German WWII small
arms (top to bottom):
Of course as with many museums,
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

the infamous MG 42,

only a fraction of the total collection the Karabiner 98 Kurz
and holdings are on display at any given bolt-action rife, the
StG 44/MP 44 (the
time, and are rotated on a regular basis
world’s frst true “as-
to ensure that repeat visitors will fnd sault rife”), and the
something different. So whether you’ve MP 40 submachine
seen it before or have never been to the gun.
site, the National World War II Museum
will always offer us and future genera- 5. The famous German
Enigma Machine, the
tions something new to learn about one
code transmitter that
of the United States’ most crucial fghts many an Allied soldier
for freedom and democracy. risked capturing.
5
6. Sidearms of the
 NatioNal World War ii MuseuM German military: 6
Address: the Luger P08 (left)
945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 and the Walther
Times: P38, as well as the
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. infamous German
Admission: “potato masher”
$22 for adults hand grenade and the
$19 for seniors ages 65 and up lesser-used but still
$13 for youth, students with ID, military with ID. deadly “egg grenade.”
Free for children under 5, military in uniform, and
World War II veterans
UrL:
www.nationalww2museum.org
Wrangler Shown with the TYPE M13

FINISH: MATTE BLACK OR

SILVER W/ MACHINED FACE
Size:
17X9 - 18X9 - 20X9

FINISH: BRIGHT SATIN

OR GLOSS BLACK
Size:
17X9 - 18X9 - 20X9
Bug Out In the tIme Of ZOmBIes
By Maxwell Matthewson and Patrick Vuong
PhotograPhy By Maxwell Matthewson
We’re usually not ones to feed into
the current, though thankfully fading,
undead fetish. You won’t see a special
RECOIL fesh-eaters issue or a buyer’s
guide on zombie-green rife accesso-
ries. But we have to admit that if there
were a living-dead pandemic, we’d have
no fear being at ground zero so long
as we were behind the wheel of this
off-road rig.
In recent years, we’ve seen many
a truck souped up to serve as zombie
apocalypse vehicles. Some are serious
tanks that can handle any terrain
thrown at them, while others are really
just trailer queens disguised with a lot
of automotive makeup and not enough
muscle. This 2011 Toyota Tundra,
however, doesn’t need a boost of
creatine. “Another ’Yota?” you might
ask. Sure, we featured a Tundra in
Issue 10, but this truck is perhaps even
more prepared for a SHTF scenario. It
is bulletproof after all. No, really, it is.
Ready foR WoRld WaR Z
The frst thing any good end-of-the-
world vehicle needs is a bigger stance
to clear hordes of walkers, downed
power lines, and the useless smartcars
that will no doubt litter the streets.
So, the truck owner — who is former
military and prefers to keep his name
out of print — outftted his rig with a
7-inch BDS lift kit front and rear. Icon
Vehicle Dynamics remote reservoir
coilovers and piggyback shocks make
sure that the Tundra rides great, even
over the roughest terrain. Hellwig
sway bars front and rear control body
roll, while custom skidplates protect
undercarriage vitals. The 37x13.50R20
Nitto Mud Grappler M/T tires are
held in place with OMF Performance
beadlocks on a set of KMC XD wheels.
Another must for a bug-out vehicle
is more power. Giving the 5.7L V-8 a
boost is a Volant cold-air intake system.
Doug Thorley long-tube headers
route the hot exhaust to the 3-inch
Flowmaster muffers. Getting the
engine’s power to the ground is a set
of Nitro ring-and-pinion gears front and
rear. Finally, a Bully Dog GT T+ tuner
allows one of four different tunes to be
loaded into the iForce’s ECU.
And as we all know, the last man on
earth will no doubt be standing with a
gun in his hands. With desperate folks,
straight-up villains, and hordes of the
undead dotting the landscape, dealing
with frearms is a given when World
War Z hits. To survive an ambush or to
prevent an errant round from disabling
this Toyota, almost the entire truck has
been made bulletproof — at the cost
of $15,000. This includes the doors,
the windows, the camper shell, and the
engine compartment.
Of course, the best defense is a
strong offense. So the Tundra has
mounts for long-guns, pistols, and
ammo under the ARE bed cap. The
truck also houses all manner of survival
gear, including a 30-foot Bubba Rope,
Hi-Lift jack, 30 gallons of water, a Yeti
cooler flled with freeze-dried food, and
a wide assortment of tools.
light of the living dead
Lighting up the night is a full array
of LED lights including two 50-inch
lightbars, a 30-inch lightbar, and eight
square lights on the front, sides, and
rear. A Golight spotlight is mounted
on the roof and offers 370-degrees
of rotation and remote-controlled
operation. In case the truck should get
stuck or someone needs to get pulled
out of a sticky situation, a pair of Warn
Zeon winches resides in the Expedition
One bumpers. Powering all of these
accessories are a total of four Optima
Yellow Top batteries and a DC Power
high-output alternator.
Just because the world has ended
doesn’t mean the interior has to
resemble that of a tank. Inside the
four full-size doors of the CrewMax
are diamond-stitched leather seats
by Chris Caras, of Corona, California.
A full sound system flls the cab with
audiophile-quality music. To top it off, a
CB radio makes sure communication is
always available.
We love seeing trucks that are built
for a purpose, and this one fts the
zombie outbreak bill. The Tundra is
by far one of the most apocalypse-
ready vehicles we have seen. If crap
has already hit the fan, you might
just see this thing cruising around the
abandoned streets. That is if you are
one of the lucky ones still alive.
 is su e
12
023

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
2011 ToyoTa
Tundra
5.7L V-8
4Wd/six-speed
auTomaTic
 Biohazard

1 WheeLs and
BeadLocks
You might be thinking,
let’s get the biggest tires
possible to drive over de-
bris and obstacles. But
if those tires aren’t se-
cured to your axles with
a set of powerful wheels,
you won’t be getting far.
These custom-made
wheels and beadlocks
are as hardcore as they
are mean looking.

make:
KMC Wheels
modeL:
XD Series
msrp:
N/A
urL:
www.kmcwheels.com

make:
OMF Performance
modeL:
Phase 8 Sim-U-Lock
msrp:
N/A
urL:
www.omfperformance.
com

2 Tires 3 Brakes 4 suspension sysTem 5 differenTiaL 6 iLLuminaTion 7 BaTTery

These are the kind of EBC’s Yel- No bug-out vehicle is complete without a Building your frst end-of- Ever drive down a road where the If you want power
beefy meats you want on lowstuff Kevlar seriously capable and reinforced suspen- days vehicle? Don’t forget streetlights aren’t working? Pretty hard to accessories, you
your doomsday vehicle’s Brake Pads give sion system — one that allows the driver to to upgrade your differen- see what’s on the road, let alone what’s gotta have the
bones. Nitto’s Mud this Tundra the make hairpin turns, scramble over downed tials, lest you want parts around you, right? Now picture doing the juice. Three Opti-
Grapplers are known ability to stop on lampposts, and absorb harsh landings. This falling off your truck’s same thing in the desert or the back- ma batteries keep
throughout the off- a dime and avoid Tundra is no exception, as it combines a BDS nether regions. Meaty tires country, where obstacles and predators this rig’s lights,
roading community for debris, which lift kit, a set of custom-built Icon shocks, and and hardcore wheels can abound. This Tundra won’t have a problem communications,
providing traction on all could be key Deaver leaf springs to get this truck to go put some serious strain with visibility. It’s loaded with light bars and entertainment
sorts of nasty terrain, when buildings wherever it needs to. on stock differentials, so and a remote-controlled, permanent- system running
from dirt and rocks to are crumbling this Tundra upgraded to mount Golight RadioRay LED Searchlight, at full steam.
shallow streams and around you or it’s make: make: a Nitro 4.88:1 ring-and- which can rotate 370 degrees and tilt 135 And it has four
fallen branches. So, run- raining fre and BDS Suspension Icon Vehicle pinion, which changed degrees. more powerplants
ning over rotten, undead brimstone. modeL: Dynamics the gear ratio to handle stored in the truck
fesh wouldn’t pose any 7-inch Coil-Over modeL: the bigger tire size and make: make: bed, just in case.
problems for these tires. make: Lift Kit Icon 2.5 piggyback improve torque and gas Rigid Industries Rigid Industries
EBC Brakes msrp: shocks (rear) mileage. modeL: modeL: make:
make: modeL: $3,581 msrp: E 30-Inch Light Bar E 50-Inch Light Bar Optima
Nitto Tire USA Yellowstuff urL: N/A make: msrp: (white LED) modeL:
modeL: Kevlar Brake www.bds- urL: Nitro Gear & Axle $1,000 msrp: YellowTop
Mud Grappler Pads suspension.com www.iconvehicle modeL: urL: $1,600 msrp:
37x13.50R20 msrp: dynamics.com 4.88:1 Ring-and-Pinion www.rigid urL: $229
msrp: $149 make: msrp: industries.com www.rigid urL:
$442 each urL: Icon Vehicle make: $3,500 industries.com www.optima
urL: www.ebcbrakes. Dynamics Deaver Suspension urL: make: batteries.com
www.nittotire.com com modeL: modeL: www.nitro-gear.com Rigid Industries make:
2.5-inch Remote Leaf Springs (rear) modeL: Golight Inc.
Reservoir Coil-Over msrp: E 50-Inch Light Bar modeL:
(front) $1,500 (amber LED) RadioRay LED
msrp: urL: msrp: Searchlight
N/A www.deaverspring. $1,600 msrp:
urL: com urL: $650
www.iconvehicle www.rigid urL:
dynamics.com industries.com www.golight.com
 Biohazard

1 Winch 2 Bumpers 3 fenders 4 recoVery TooLs 5 cooLer 6 Truck-Bed

cap
There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s when Armor is vital if you’re going to wheel These fender fares In addition to the winches on Whether you want to
it comes to winches on an off-road through harsh environments. While balance function the bumpers, this Tundra is maintain your food This truck-bed cap
rig. These are requisite tools needed they’re no cow-catchers, these Expedi- with aesthetics, armed with an X-TREME Jack supplies for a long- helps to keep the
if you ever plan to leave the pavement tion One bumpers do provide serious giving additional and 30 feet of Bubba Rope to term SHTF situation, gear, supplies, ammo,
— likely in a SHTF scenario. A winch protection from collisions, the elements, tire coverage from assist in vehicle recovery. or you want be able to and frearms secure
will help you, or another vehicle, get and any form of undead. debris while seam- knock back a few cold from prying eyes, bad
unstuck if you’ve hit a deep sticky lessly adding to the make: ones after a long day guys, and the living
patch of mud or got your undercarriage make: Tundra’s aggressive Hi-Lift Jack Company at the range, this Yeti dead. Plus, the cap
“high-centered” on a boulder. This Expedition One looks. modeL: cooler will ensure your accents the Tundra’s
Tundra has not one, but two winches modeL: X-TREME Jack chow and drinks are hardcore aesthetics
(one for each end) to ensure recovery is Tundra RangeMax Front Bumper make: msrp: at the ready. while ftting faw-
possible from almost any angle. msrp: Bushwacker $120 lessly with the bed.
starts at $1,580 Bodygear urL: make:
make: make: urL: modeL: www.hi-lift.com Yeti Coolers make:
Warn Industries Warn Industries www.exp-one.com Toyota Pocket Style modeL: ARE Accessories
modeL: modeL: Fender Flares make: Tundra 105 modeL:
9.5ti Multi Mount Zeon 10-S (rear) make: msrp: Bubba Rope msrp: Z Series Truck Cap
Winch Kit (front) msrp: Expedition One $640 modeL: $480 msrp:
msrp: $1,349 modeL: urL: 30-Foot Bubba Standard urL: Contact for pricing
$1,920 urL: Tundra RangeMax Rear Bumper www.bushwacker. msrp: store.yeticoolers.com urL:
urL: www.warn.com msrp: com $199 www.4are.com
www.warn.com starts at $1,150 urL:
urL: www.bubbarope.com
www.exp-one.com
 As one wrinkly, green Jedi likes to say, “Size MAKE: MAKE: MAKE:
matters not.” Browning Columbia River Knife & Tool Gerber
MODEL: MODEL: MODEL:
matter — just not always in the way you think. Model 334 Delilah’s PECK Mini FAST Draw Tanto
Similar to the debate surrounding caliber, OAL: OAL: OAL:
4.19 inches 4.25 inches 5 inches
pundits often say that the bigger the knife, the BLADE LENGTH: BLADE LENGTH: BLADE LENGTH:
better. But as knife nuts know, there’s a task 1.75 inches 1.75 inches 2.13 inches
BLADE MATERIAL: BLADE MATERIAL: BLADE MATERIAL:
for every blade length. 3Cr13 stainless steel 420J2 stainless steel 7Cr17MoV stainless steel
WEIGHT: WEIGHT: WEIGHT:
Imagine you’re lost in the jungle with no sup-
1 ounce 0.9 ounce 1.75 ounces
plies and no signs of help. Naturally, you’ll want MSRP: MSRP: MSRP:
$18 $30 $26
to attack the dense foliage with a machete to
URL: URL: URL:
make a fire and build a shelter. Now picture you www.browning.com www.crkt.com www.gerbergear.com
going back to work stocking shelves at a grocery
store. Suddenly, that same zombie-chopping
blade seems like an expensive paperweight
compared to your $1 box-cutter, no? It should
always be the mission — not your level of tes-
tosterone — that dictates the size of your tool.
12

With that in mind, we set our sights on

IS SU E

small pocket knives with blades shorter than 3

inches. Sure, they aren’t as badass as combat
knives or as exotic as karambits, but these
puppies are affordable EDC tools for civilians
and off-duty warriors.
REC O ILW E B .C O M

Small pocket knives are, by definition, com-

pact and lightweight. That’s perfect for those
who are either concerned about keeping their
cargo load to a minimum or whose pants are
already jammed with a “phablet,” keys, coins,
wallet, and CCW pistol. Plus, most petite
pocket knives look fairly innocuous and won’t
usually raise the eyebrows of law enforcement
or the courts. If the blade is made of the right
material and has the right grind, a small pocket
knife can be a versatile tool used for everything
from opening boxes and cutting rope to slicing
food and carrying as a backup weapon. Price
isn’t much of a concern, either, considering
pint-sized tools cost less than their full-size
counterparts.
The little knives in this group perform
beyond their stature, and one or more of them
could very well find a home in your pocket.
Just be mindful of the laws in your area and of
the mission that’s ahead of you before walking
out the door. And remember, size really does
make a difference.
 FLIP THE PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH KNIFE.

MAKE:
MAKE: MAKE: MAKE: Kershaw Knives MAKE:
Pro-Tech Knives SOG Specialty Knives & Tools Boker USA MODEL: CampCo Inc.
MODEL: MODEL: MODEL: Shuffle MODEL:
Sprint (2912) Micron 2.0 Titan 2 OAL: UZI Zaka Micro Rescue Knife
OAL: OAL: OAL: 5.6 inches OAL:
5 inches 5 inches 5.5 inches BLADE LENGTH: 6.25 inches
BLADE LENGTH: BLADE LENGTH: BLADE LENGTH: 2.4 inches BLADE LENGTH:
1.95 inches 2.25 inches 2.5 inches BLADE MATERIAL: 2.5 inches
BLADE MATERIAL: BLADE MATERIAL: BLADE MATERIAL: 8Cr13MoV stainless BLADE MATERIAL:
S35VN stainless steel 420 stainless steel Solingen stainless steel steel 420 stainless steel
WEIGHT: WEIGHT: WEIGHT: WEIGHT: WEIGHT:
1.6 ounces 1.4 ounces 1.5 ounces 2.8 ounces 3.1 ounces
MSRP: MSRP: MSRP: MSRP: MSRP:
$180 $25 $97 $25 $20
URL: URL: URL: URL: URL:
www.protechknives.com www.sogknives.com www.boker.de/us kershaw.kaiusaltd.com www.uzi.com
 UnUsUal sUspects

interrogating the UnUsUal sUspects

BroWning crkt gerBer pro-tech
Model 334 delilah’s peck Mini Fast draW tanto sprint

411: 411: 411: 411:

As a throwback to folders of yore, this knife PECK stands for Precision Engineered Compact The baby brother of Gerber’s FAST (Forward Pro-Tech makes some of the best auto knives
features the classic nail-nick and lock-back Knife — emphasis on “compact.” It’s 2.63 inches Action Spring Technology) folder family. It in the United States. Its Sprint series comes
design. Fancy engraving on one side of the blade long when closed and is lighter than your set features a one-handed operation and a black in various materials and ranges from $150 to
adds a distinctly old-school fair. of keys. titanium nitride-coated blade. $1,400 (for limited editions).

Pros: Pros: Pros: Pros:

Stainless-steel handles are slender and ft 420J2 stainless steel is super resistant to Plunge lock allows for safe closure and keeps Auto opening is fast as lightning — and makes
neatly into pockets corrosion the blade fxed when open us giddy like a school girl
Good choice for those who don’t like bulky knives Hook it to a split-ring or lanyard for different Molded nylon handle provides sturdy grip Blade’s S35VN is laser sharp, tough, and
or big prices carry options Assisted opening is smooth corrosion resistant
Doubles as a stylish money clip Sleek aesthetic to match the stellar engineering
Cons: Cons:
12

Blade, made of Chinese 3Cr13, is unimpressive Cons: Tanto blades on tactical knives limit their Cons:
is su e

You’ll need two hands to operate the classic For light-duty use only versatility Talk about sticker shock — at $180, it’s seven
lock-back Sorry, lefties, this is for right-handers only The blade’s Chinese 7Cr17MoV steel is lacking times more expensive than some of the others
Looking for a pocket clip? Not in this vintage- Got sausage fngers? Good luck running this Pocket clip is right-sided only Made for right-handers
030 style knife. little guy.
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

sog Boker Usa kershaW caMpco

Micron 2.0 titan 2 shUFFle UZi Zaka Micro rescUe

411: 411: 411: 411:

The 5-inch Micron 2.0 is about 13⁄8 inches longer
than its older brother, the original Micron, and is
also available in a hard-cased black fnish with
tanto blade.
Pros:
Jimping on the blade spine offers traction
Combines tactical aesthetics with old-school
elements
Provides an ergonomic grip despite its super-
slim profle
Cons:
There’s no pocket clip, so be mindful of the carry
laws in your area
Blade is about as sharp as a letter-opener
Requires both hands to open and close
A premium knife based on a traditional design. Comes with a stubby, sharp blade made of This UZI-branded multitool comes with a strap
Its blade is made of Solingen stainless (denoting 8Cr13MoV (a decent Chinese clone of AUS-8 cutter and glass breaker embedded in the
its German city of origin); this one’s equivalent to steel) and a comfortable K-Texture handle. anodized aluminum handle.
440A stainless. Available with white or pink handles, or in all
black to match Batman’s utility belt. Pros:
Pros: Flipper or thumb disc can activate the spring-
Looks great whether you’re at the range or a Pros: assisted opening
board meeting Aggressive yet ergonomic design makes it a Affordable while offering the most functionality
Titanium handles are skinny, light, and tough as solid budget EDC of the bunch
nails Ambidextrous operation with a reversible pocket Flipper becomes a solid fnger guard in the
Feels great in hand clip opened position
Comes with an integrated bottle opener
Cons: Cons:
Classic lock-back design means a two-handed Cons: The blade’s edge isn’t anything to write home
operation Said bottle opener is kinda sharp and can dig about
Titanium handle means a titanic MSRP of $97 into your palm Spring-assisted opening can be sluggish
Doesn’t have a pocket clip Ball detent on the liner lock scrapes an unsightly One-sided pocket clip
line into the blade
 032
Rec o ilw e b .c o m is su e 12

By Erik Lund
PhotograPhy By HEnry Z. dE kuypEr
Lancer BuiLds a race-ready .308-caLiBer ar
lancer systems got its start making
seals, way back when killing Nazis was
the national pastime. No, not those
seAls — we mean the rubber kind. so
what happens when a company staffed
by gun nuts steps way outside its lane
of expertise and tries to make a modern
.308 AR rife? Awesomeness happens.
lancer frst came to the fore with
the introduction of their l5 translu-
cent magazine. The l5 features an
injection-molded, translucent polymer
magazine body with steel feed lips
embedded into the top portion of the
is su e
12
033
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
tube. This steel and polymer hybrid
design offers the strength of steel
magazines mated with the durabil-
ity and signifcant weight savings of
polymer, all in a translucent package
that allows one to visually inspect the
number of rounds remaining.

As a testament to the company’s
desire to continually refne and improve
existing designs, lancer recently
introduced its l5 Advanced warfghter
magazine, which now incorporates
constant curve internal design geom-
etry, more color selections, aggressive
surface texturing, and stainless steel
12
magazine springs mated with a non-tilt
is su e
follower. if a company is willing to
expend this much time and effort to
improve the performance of a box with
034 a spring in it, you might wonder what
they might do when taking a clean-slate
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
approach to designing a .308 AR rife.
well, wonder no more.
Starting Over
so what exactly did a company that
specializes in sealant technology know
about building an AR-based .308 rife?
exactly nothing. And they wouldn’t have
it any other way.
There were no preconceived notions,
no boundaries, and no conventional
wisdoms to follow. There was absolutely
nothing that told its engineers what to
do or where to start. There’s freedom
in that kind of ignorance. The freedom
to look at new technologies, ideas,
and concepts and not say, “it can’t be
done,” but rather, “let’s fnd a way
to do it.” lancer didn’t fear wander-
ing out of its lane. on the contrary, it
embraced it.
lancer’s frst order of business was
to develop the basic framework for
what would ultimately become the
l30 modern sporting Rife. The l30
would be a large-caliber, precision
semiautomatic rife, suitable for any
application — from the recreational
shooter and hunter to the
special-operations
soldier, and all points in between.
This diverse spectrum of applications
required a new approach to the concept
of modularity.
the COntrOl Center
lancer’s market research showed
that the most prolifc .308-pattern
magazines currently available were
the sR-25/DPms style. Accordingly, it
designed the l30 lower receiver to ac-
cept this magazine pattern. The lower
receivers are precision-machined from
7075-T6 aluminum billet with the frst
of many innovative features — namely,
an interchangeable magazine well
extension.
These are attached by means of a
captured rail machined into the lower
receiver, allowing the extensions to
slide into position. once attached, the
extensions are locked into position
by the front takedown pin. The l30’s
lower receiver can be reconfgured with
three different-sized magazine well
extensions that facilitate tactical and
emergency reloads. The tactical mag-
well extension offers a slightly oversized
opening, with just enough of a bevel
around the edges to facilitate a fast
reload without excessive protrusion.
The Dmm-R/l extension offers a relief
cut along either the right or left side
of the extension to facilitate magazine
exchanges while in the prone position.
if you’ve ever tried to swap mags on
an AR-10 while shooting from a bipod,
you’ll appreciate this feature. The com-
petition extension is a bigger version
of the tactical model with a larger and
longer bevel, designed mainly for com-
petition shooters. This model offers the
fastest possible reload with the tradeoff
of a slightly larger profle.
moving along to the main receiver,
one immediately notices a radically
different surface contour designed
to increase the size of the operating
controls. This innovation allows the
ambidextrous bolt release and maga-
zine release buttons to be larger and
easier to manipulate, without extend-
ing them out from the receiver, unlike
other aftermarket solutions.
A comfortable pistol grip from
ergo Grip provides the perfect hand
placement to properly place the trigger
fnger on the HiPeRFiRe HiPeR-
ToucH 24c drop-in trigger system.
HiPeRFiRe offers a complete line of
drop-in trigger systems for AR-15 and
AR-10-pattern rifes and has quickly
developed a reputation for providing
an outstanding single-stage trigger at a
reasonable price (see Recoil issue 9).
several of the top three-gun competi-
tors i personally know have switched
to HiPeRFiRe and rave about its
performance.
Rounding out the l30’s lower re-
ceiver is a lancer-designed, rife-length
carbon-fber hybrid stock. The stock
features a large, angled surface area for
a more comfortable cheek weld and an
extended dogleg under the rear of the
stock for the support hand to stabilize
the rife when shooting from prone.
Quick-detach cups are molded into the
stock for use with a sling.
 035

is su e 12 Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Carbon Finer

the Upper DeCk
using the same design approach as
the lower receiver, lancer immediately
recognized the shortcomings of the
standard AR upper receiver, promptly
trashed the design, and started over.
its frst design change involved moving
the attachment point of the free-foated
carbon-fber hand-guard away from the
barrel nut and into the upper receiver
itself. The distinctive hand-guard exten-
sion is machined directly into the upper
receiver, performing several important
tasks. This design reduces weight by
allowing the use of a smaller and lighter
barrel nut, but more importantly, it
assures the top rail of the handguard
is perfectly aligned with the upper
receiver rail — no more canted or mis-
aligned free-foat tubes.
Additionally, the end user can select
12
from several different carbon-fber
is su e
tube lengths with heat dissipating slots
to customize the rife to their needs.
carbon-fber provides a rigid, light-
036 weight alternative to aluminum that
is stiffer and dissipates heat quicker
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
— important during long courses of
fre. Those who favor using suppres-
sors when shooting or who shoot large
volumes of ammunition very quickly will
appreciate its heat-resistant qualities.
Firing the same number of rounds using
other handguards would cause them to
quickly heat up to the point of being
untouchable without the aid of gloves.
Attached to the receiver at the 12
o’clock position is another innovation,
an interchangeable upper rail. The end
user has the option of two differently
angled 1913 mil-spec Picatinny rails
that bolt up rigidly to the upper — a
standard fat rail and one machined
with a 20 moA taper for long-range
shooting. whichever you select, you’ll
then have to decide between three dif-
ferent lengths: a standard-length model
that ends fush with the upper receiver,
a slightly longer version that extends a
few inches past the upper receiver, and
Carbon Finer
a full-length top rail that runs to the
end of the hand-guard.
The heart and soul of the l30 is
an 18-inch stainless-steel, 1-in-10-
twist match-grade barrel that sports
a perfectly crowned 5⁄8x24-threaded
muzzle and features lancer’s adjust-
able three-port Nitrous muzzle brake.
barrel futing is available depending
upon barrel confguration to further
reduce weight.
For the next piece of the perfor-
mance puzzle, lancer turned to Rubber
city Armory (RcA) for the blacknitride-
Plus .308 bolt and carrier combination.
RcA is an industry leader in providing
high-performance, precision-machined
and nitrided bolts and bolt carriers.
The proprietary QPQ (quench-polish-
quench) process changes the chemistry
of the outer few microns of the bolt’s
steel, making it much harder and
improving both lubricity and corro-
sion resistance, while reducing wear
and stress on critical parts. Very few
shooters in this world are harder on
their equipment than pro three-gunners
and a quick walk past the rife rack at
any major three-gun match will reveal
a large number of RcA bolts and car-
riers inside the pros’ guns. completing
the upper receiver is a Rainier Arms
Raptor ambidextrous charging handle.
manufactured from 7075 aircraft-grade
aluminum, the Raptor provides plenty
of strength and leverage for working the
larger and heavier .308 bolt. it features
large serrated wings that are easily
manipulated from either side and is a
perfect match for the l30’s ambidex-
trous controls.
teStDriving aweSOme
Picking up the rife did not disap-
point, nor did lancer’s new 20-round,
.308 magazine. constructed in the
same fashion as the l5 Awm, i predict
this mag will quickly become the new
industry standard for .308 ARs. The l30
balanced well and pointed effortlessly.
 The full-length stock ft perfectly in the
shoulder and the carbon-fber free-foat
tube flled the hand nicely with enough
extra length to ft any support-hand
gripping style (though, bear in mind,
i’m not exactly what you’d call petite).
12
The futed 18-inch barrel transitioned
is su e
easily between targets while the
combination of the HiPeRFiRe trigger
and the Nitrous muzzle brake rewarded
038 each trigger press with a loud clang
on the 50- and 100-yard steel targets.
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Tearing through a 20-round magazine
Lancer’s venture in to gives new meaning to the phrase “Fire
the .308 realm points at will.” Hits on steel at speed were
naturally, transitions
swiftly, and tracks boringly easy, and it fed, fred, and
smoothly with very ejected everything we put through it.
soft recoil. Carbon- before falling into our grubby paws,
fber furniture looks
our test rife had been used to burn
pretty trick, too.
through thousands of rounds at sHoT
show’s media Day at the Range, so
we’d anticipated having to make allow-
ances for a shot-out throat. Despite
abuse at the hands of journalists who
had run it like a rental car, 168-grain
Federal Gold medal match turned in
.75-moA groups — and that accuracy
could be likely tightened up with han-
dloads. The rife’s recoil was quite soft
and the muzzle tracked consistently
with very little movement at all.
This rife is a racer, pure and simple.
if you’re looking to scratch that .308
AR itch, then any generic rife will suf-
fce. but if you’re looking to get into the
left lane, put the hammer down, and
get all fast and furious on the range,
then the lancer l30 might just be the
ride you need.
 ®

Rifles

varmageddon
NOSLER’S VARMAGEDDON® AR Rifle NOW AVAILABLE IN

www.Nosler.com 800.285.3701
By Noveske®

When we decided to embark on this
project, deciding just how to approach
removing metal from the 80-percent
forging was a tough decision. Everyone
wants to see impeccably machined bil-
let and fawless surfaces, but clamping
the piece in a CNC machine and press-
ing “play” would detract from the ethos
of the build. In the end, we decided that
despite having access to a Haas and a
couple of Bridgeports, it was only right
and proper that we use the most basic
equipment possible. And that means
a cheap drill press, handtools and, of
course, the inevitable almighty Dremel.
Bear in mind that you’re abusing
the drill press more than just a little
during this adventure. It’s designed to
By
be loaded only in the Z (vertical) axis,
and even though you’re only ever going
to be plunging end mills into the work,
you’re still going to induce side loads.
This means it’s going to protest by
vibrating like crazy and trying to spit
the work piece into your soft parts, so
wear safety glasses and take appropri-
ate precautions.
Warning!
When handling frearms, always observe safety rules
and the precautions set forth in the frearm’s owner’s
guide. Be certain that your frearm is unloaded and
made safe before proceeding with this DIY.
 step 1
some tips
before you begin
Ensure that the work is clamped
securely to the table
Run the slowest speed possible
and use a light hand
Clear chips away often and use
plenty of cutting fuid
Take your time to set everything
up right. It’s all too easy to get
drawn into making chips, but the Set up your 80-percent lower in the jig and make sure it’s well secured.
key to a good result is in setup.

step 2
What you need
Other than a drill press (the bigger
and heavier the better), you’ll need
the following:

is su e
C-clamps (again, bigger is bet-
ter, though we ran out of room

12
on our tiny drill press table to
use more than one)
5
⁄16-inch two-fute, center-cutting
041
end mill

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
3
⁄8 -inch two-fute, center-cutting
end mill
5
⁄16-inch drill bit
3
⁄8 -inch drill bit
5
⁄32 -inch drill bit
Cutting fuid (WD-40 works well
on aluminum)
Not Pictured:
80-percent jig
Dremel with sanding drum and
1
⁄8 -inch rotary rasp
Hand fles
Hammer, trigger, and safety Insert a 5⁄16-inch drill bit into the chuck and tighten well. Clamp the jig and re-
selector to test ft ceiver to the drill press table and, with the drill not running, touch the tip of the drill
to the top of the receiver. You’ll now set the depth of cut, so that the tip ends up 11⁄8
inches from the top of the receiver. If your drill press has a scale, use it. If not, use
a steel rule to set the distance from the stop nut to the surface it contacts on the
drill press casting.
Look at a completed AR-15 receiver and you’ll see the fre control pocket has
two areas. We’re going to frst remove material from the deeper of the two. Line up
the jig so that the side of the drill bit almost contacts the fxture. If you want to get
super precise, you can hold it away from the wall .003 of an inch, simply by using a
piece of printer paper as a feeler gauge.
 20% effort, 100% ar

step 3
It’s now time to make the frst cut. Take a deep breath and fre up the drill. Squirt a little cutting fuid
and start drilling, raising it often to clear away chips. Drill all around the frst area of the fre control
pocket, removing as much aluminum as you can.
Now swap out the drill bit for the 3⁄8 -inch end mill. Set the depth of cut 1⁄8 -inch deeper, to 1¼ inches,
in the same way as for the drill then go back around to fnish hogging out the fre control pocket.

step 4
Now that you have the hang of removing material, reconfgure your jig as necessary and follow the same
procedures used to set up to remove material from the shallower area of the fre control pocket. Once
completed, the receiver should look like this.
 20% effort, 100% ar

step 5
We’re now going to mill out a slot for the trigger. Set up the jig so that the trigger slot is correctly posi-
tioned and chuck up the 5⁄16-inch end mill. Using the jig as a guide, run it completely through the receiver,
breaking out into the trigger guard area. Reposition as necessary and repeat until you’ve removed as much
material as possible.

step 6
Flip the jig over onto its side and
prepare to drill the hammer and trigger
pin holes with the 5⁄32 -inch drill bit.
With the drill off, position the jig so that
when you bring the drill bit down, it
doesn’t make contact with the holes in
the jig, instead passing cleanly through
them. Now hit the switch and start drill-
ing, stopping when you break through
into the fre control pocket. Flip the jig
over and repeat the process from the
opposite side.
Set up the jig as above and repeat
the process with the 3⁄8 -inch drill bit to
drill the 3⁄8 -inch hole for the selector.
 20% effort, 100% ar

step 7
You can now break down the jig and
remove the receiver in preparation for
hand fnishing. Using your Dremel with
a sanding drum, fatten out the peaks
and valleys caused by the end mills.
Carefully use the rotary rasp to fatten
out the very bottom of the pocket, then
switch to hand fles for a fnal fnish.

step 8
Use the
hammer, trigger,
and selector
from your lower
parts kit to test
ft as you go,
removing only as
much material as
necessary.

step 9
Once the three components will drop in, insert the pins
and check for function. With the selector on Safe, press on
the back of the hammer and pull the trigger. The hammer
shouldn’t drop — if it does, you have a problem caused
by the relative placement of the fre control holes. If it
passes muster, congratulations! You now have a choice to
make as to what type of fnish to apply to your
fully functional Death Star AR-15
receiver.

sources
Brownells | www.brownells.com
Grainger | www.grainger.com
McMaster-Carr | www.mcmaster.com
Billet Rife Systems | www.billet80.com
American Spirit Arms | www.americanspiritarms.com
 The TAC-XPD™ Defense Ammunition–the
optimized solution for carry or home defense.
• Techni-Crom™ plated cases
• Coated, all-copper bullets
• Smooth, reliable feeding
• Virtually no muzzle flash

Available in 380 Auto, 9mm Luger, 40 S&W and 45 Auto.

New for 2014 - 357 Magnum

www.barnesbullets.com
1-800-574-9200
Find an
80-Percent
Lower You
FancY So
You can
BuiLd Your
VerY own ar
By RECOIL Staff

In his famous essay Self-Reliance from

the 1800s, American philosopher
Ralph Waldo Emerson argues strenu-
ously for individualism, for avoiding
conformity, and for all to “trust thyself.”
The strength of the individual is a
core tenet of our great country, and no
less than the Bill of Rights explicitly
guarantees personal freedoms for all
Americans — including, of course, the
right to bear arms.
What better way to practice self-
reliance than by building your very
own frearm with your own two hands?
Articles elsewhere in this issue cover
the legalities and step-by-step details
of manufacturing your own frearm. This
buyer’s guide outlines a selection of
so-called 80-percent lowers from which
you can build your rendition of the most
American of frearms, an AR-15 pattern
rife. Please note that there are many
80-percent lowers available on the
market; we are just showing a represen-
tative sample in this guide.
 SoMe thingS to keep in Mind:
Billet versus forged: 80-percent low-
ers are available in both forged and bil-
let (or more accurately, machined from
aluminum billet) variants. Last issue,
we covered billet upper/lower sets, and
the same considerations apply here.
Forged lowers will be stronger, ounce
for ounce, than their billet counter-
parts — but both will function perfectly
well. Forged lowers more or less all
look the same, while billet lowers can
be machined to incorporate additional
features and aesthetic concerns. Billet
lowers also command a price premium.
Material: Forged lowers are made
from 7075 aluminum, but you may
often have a choice between 6061 and
7075 for billet lowers. How to choose?
7075 is stronger, but more expensive.
6061 can be easier to work on for your
average garage tinkerer and, when
machined from billet, is more corrosion
resistant than 7075 (forgings can be a
different matter, hence issues that you
may have read about during the early
days of the AR-15 platform). Some may
prefer to pay a little extra to get the
strongest material, but don’t feel bad
about going with 6061. Both will get
the job done just fne.
Features: Billet lowers may have vari-
ous additional features, such as integral
trigger guards, fared magazine wells,
and pins with screws to replace those
annoying roll pins. You can also shop
around to fnd one that suits the look
you want.
80-percent versus 95-percent: All of
these partially formed pieces of alumi-
num have been determined by the ATF
not to be frearms. Most lowers require
you to hog out the entire fre-control
pocket and drill holes for the trigger bow,
safety selector, hammer pin, and trigger
pin. Some (including the American Spirit
Arms forged, which coined the phrase
“95-percent lower” for its offering, Ares
billet, and Colfax forged) have addition-
ally started the fre-control pocket for you
at the rear of the lower.
Finish: Those who like to “go big
or go home” and do things by the
book should probably choose a raw
lower, complete the machining and any
engravings, surface fnish to prefer-
ence (i.e. bead-blast), and anodize the
fnished product. While more expensive,
this will ensure the entire lower (in par-
ticular, the pin holes) is hard-coat anod-
ized. Alternately, many a home builder
has started with an anodized 80-per-
cent lower and either left the internal
machined surfaces and pin holes in the
raw, or hit them with something simpler
and more economical like Cerakote. But
if intended for hard use and high round
counts, our preference would be to
start with a raw receiver and then type
III hard-coat anodize it afterwards.
Jigs: If possible, purchasing a jig
from the same manufacturer as your
lower ensures that they will be perfectly
compatible. However, many jigs will
work with a variety of lowers, as noted
in the compatibility grid, and some
80% Arms
Jig
80% Arms lower
American spirit Arms lower
Ares Armor forged lower
Ares Armor billet lower
Ares Armor signature lower
billet rife systems lower
colfax tactical lower
Juggernaut tactical lower
Ke Arms forged lower
Ke Arms billet lower
tactical machining lower
tr enabling lower
DisClAimer: fitment information based on our sample products. manufacturers may update products from time to time, so please verify before purchasing.
Note: All lowers that are available with anodizing are type iii hard anodized. Additionally, all magazine wells are broach cut unless otherwise noted.
are designed to be universal. Note
that, generally speaking, forged lowers
“A foolish are compatible with all jigs, but billet
lowers may or may not be, depending
consistency on their particular design characteris-
is the tics. Exactly what makes billet lowers
more unique and distinctive can make
hobgoblin them incompatible with other jigs. For
of little example, differences in the contour of
minds, the magazine release fence, fares in
the magwell, or extra thickness in the
Adored by lower’s “tail” may interfere with the
little shape of certain jigs.
stAtesmen
Some other considerations in choos-
And ing a jig include its rigidity and clamp-
philosophers ing surface, which help to stabilize the
work piece and reduce chatter from
And divines.” vibration. This unfortunately can be
is su e
diffcult to assess, as it will depend
not only on the lower you select, but
12
also the mill vise or other equipment
that you’re using — we encourage
you to think carefully about this; for
049
instance, the integral trigger guards
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
on billet lowers may protrude from the
bottom of some jigs. Almost all of the
jigs utilize the front and rear take-down
holes for locator pins. Some jigs have
replaceable bushings for their drill holes
to enhance their ability to be used
multiple times.
Are They CompATible?
CNC
Ares Billet rifle ColfAx JuggerNAut tACtiCAl tr eNABliNg
Armor Jig systems Jig guNsmithiNg
Jig tACtiCAl Jig tACtiCAl Jig Ke Arms Jig mAChiNiNg Jig Jig
 This is WhaT
Freedom Looks Like
Building your own frearms is not
limited to the province of AR-15s.
There are other platforms that may 80% arms
suit your fancy, and 80-percent
80% Arms offers billet lowers in your choice 80% Arms’ Easy Jig is designed specifcally for
receivers and frames can be had in a of bead-blasted raw or black anodized, and in its own billet lowers, allowing you to complete
variety of selections. Shown here are 6061 or 7075 aluminum. Shown is the black your build more quickly and using only com-
just a few examples. anodized receiver. The lowers have engraved monly available hand tools. Milling is done with
selector markings (“SAFE” and “SEMI”) on a router; you need not have a mill or drill press.
The DPMS/SR-25-pattern AR-10 both sides, integral winter trigger guards, and The jig features hefty side plates with various
80-percent lower ($179 raw, $189 black anodized) and jig ($140) are fared magwells. adapters and templates to complete each
from Juggernaut Tactical. Note that most of the companies in this guide modeL: operation. It completely encloses the integral
80% Lower Receiver Billet AR-15 Lower trigger guard on the billet lower. Note the Easy
sell AR-10 lowers. AK-Builder (www.ak-builder.com) offers a variety of
maTeriaL: Jig is not compatible even with standard forged
AK receiver fats ($35 for the M92 under-folder shown). You can also lowers — 80% Arms does offer a universal jig
6061 or 7075
build a pistol, with a Rudius 1911 80-percent frame ($250) from Ares Finish: for $90 (raw) or $98 (anodized), which we did
Armor, and even an 80-percent frame ($219) from Limited 10 (www. Raw (bead-blasted) or black anodized not have to test.
msrP: modeL:
limited-10.com/store) that you can use to build an STI 2011-pattern
$105 (raw 6061) 80% AR15 Easy Jig
double-stack pistol. Also pictured are examples of AR-15 80-percent Finish:
$110 (anodized 6061)
lowers with black and FDE anodizing. Polymer lowers are also available. $125 (raw 7075) Anodized
$130 (anodized 7075) msrP:
$150
12

UrL:
www.80percentarms.com
IS Su E

050
REC o ILW E B .C o M
 seLF-reLiance

american sPiriT arms

American Spirit Arms offers a traditional forged modeL:
receiver with a nice tumbled fnish. They were ASA M4 AR-15 95-Percent Lower Receiver
one of the frst to push to machine as much as maTeriaL:
they could while still receiving a favorable deter- 7075 (forged)
mination from the ATF. ASA calls it a 95-percent Finish:
lower — compared to many other 80-percent Raw (tumbled)
lowers, the fre-control pocket has been started msrP:
with the upper receiver rear lug pocket already $150 ($120 on sale)
machined. The magazine well is EDM wire cut UrL:
and moderately beveled. www.americanspiritarms.com

ares armor
modeL: modeL: modeL: The Ares Armor jig has thick anodized alumi-
80-Percent AR-15 80-Percent Billet Ares Armor num side plates with drill bushings for the
Lower Receiver AR-15 Lower Signature Billet trigger pin, hammer pin, and safety selector
maTeriaL: Receiver maTeriaL: hole. The top plates are made of steel and
As one of the more high-profle purveyors of 80-percent receivers,
7075 (forged) maTeriaL: 7075 provide templates to hog out the fre-control
Ares Armor offers a full line of products, including forged, billet,
Finish: 7075 Finish: group. The jig completely encloses the integral
and premium Signature billet lowers. They can be ordered raw
Raw (tumbled) or Finish: Raw (tumbled) or trigger guard on the billet lowers and was
(usually tumbled, though the forged lower shown is bead-blasted)
black anodized Raw (tumbled) or black anodized compatible with all but two of the billet lowers
or black anodized for a $10 surcharge. The forged lower’s magwell
msrP: black anodized msrP: in this guide.
has additional beveling. The billet receiver has subtle styling with a
$80 (raw) msrP: $160 ($125 on modeL:
mag fence similar to the forged; it also features an integral trigger
guard and, like the ASA, the rear of the fre-control pocket has $90 (anodized) $160 ($90 on sale, raw) 80-Percent AR-15 Jig

is su e
already been machined. The Signature billet lower (shown anodized sale, raw) $135 (anodized) Finish:
black) has more squared-off lines and an integral trigger guard — $100 (anodized) Anodized
msrP:

12
note that it is only compatible with a few jigs in this guide.
$135
UrL: 051
www.aresarmor.com

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
 seLF-reLiance

BiLLeT riFLe sysTems

Billet Rife Systems makes
80-percent lowers in 6061
and 7075, available raw or
black anodized. The lower has
an angular look and features
an integral trigger guard,
fared magwell, threaded rear
takedown pin detent hole, and
a pin and set screw for the bolt
catch. The magwell is machined.
The lowers also have engraved
pictograms for the selector
markings on both sides.
modeL:
Independence
maTeriaL:
6061 or 7075
Finish:
Raw (steel ball burnished) or black
anodized
msrP:
$129 (raw 6061)
12
The Jig Set from Billet Rife
Systems is very affordable and
comes with two side plates and
a single top plate that screws in
and fips around to accomplish
each operation. The jig fully
encloses the integral trigger
guard. The side plates are not as
thick as some of the other jigs,
but they get the job done (see
it used in the DIY on page 40).
Tooling is optional and includes
a 3⁄8 -inch end mill, 5⁄16-inch end
mill, 5⁄32 -inch drill bit, and 3⁄8 -
inch drill bit.
modeL:
80-Percent Jig Set
Finish:
Raw
msrP:
$72 (jig)
$64 (tooling)

$159 (raw 7075) UrL:

$174 (anodized 7075) www.billet80.com
is su e

052

cnc GUnsmiThinG
modeL:
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

AR-15 drilling jig, milling

adapter kit, trigger slot
adapter kit
The other jigs in this guide use the takedown pin holes to align the jig and work piece, and are designed to be used with typical 80-percent lowers sold
Finish:
today which require the fre-control pocket to be milled out. The CNC Gunsmithing jig doesn’t utilize the takedown pin holes, requiring more care during
Anodized
setup, but also allowing more fexibility, as it is designed to handle other operations on 80-percent receivers of differing styles, including those that
msrP:
originally had the fre-control pocket already milled out. You can infer from this just how long CNC Gunsmithing’s track record has been in the 80-percent
$100 (jig)
business; they focus primarily on jigs and do not sell AR-15 lowers (though they do offer an interesting 80% AR45 lower that accepts grease gun
$125 (milling adapter)
magazines). The jig also does not fully enclose the lower, which you should keep in mind as you consider how you will secure it. The CNC jig has two side
$50 (trigger slot)
plates and several adapters, sold separately; it was compatible with all of the lowers in this guide. In sum, though, it is the most expensive jig set.
UrL:
www.cncguns.com
 seLF-reLiance

coLFax TacTicaL
Colfax has a very nice forged receiver in Colfax’s jig includes side plates and a
your choice of raw tumbled (shown here), single top plate. Note this jig does not
raw bead-blasted or black anodized. include a template to drill the trigger
The magwell has extra beveling. Similar hole — because Colfax is concerned
to the ASA, the rear of the fre-control about potential drift when drilling from
pocket has already been started. the top, given the distance between
modeL: the template and the bottom of the
AR-15 80-Percent Lower receiver. Thus, they advise customers
maTeriaL: to use coordinates instead. The jig does
7075 (forged) completely enclose integral trigger
Finish: guards on the other billet lowers.
Raw (tumbled or bead blasted) or black modeL:
anodized AR Jig
msrP: Finish:
$79 (raw) Raw
$90 (anodized) msrP:
$99
UrL:
www.colfaxtactical.com
12

JUGGernaUT TacTicaL
modeL:
is su e

Also unique is Juggernaut

AR-15 80-Percent Lower Tactical’s Universal Jig, which
Receiver sports an indexing system
Juggernaut Tactical’s billet lower has a unique look with an integral winter trigger guard, fared magwell, and maTeriaL: that utilizes the threading
054 grooves on the front of the magwell. The distinctive fence around the mag release and bolt catch also makes it 6061 or 7075 for the receiver extension to
incompatible with most of the jigs in this guide. Selector markings (“SAFE” and “SEMI”) are engraved on the left Finish: accept an adapter, ensuring
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

side, and anodized models wear Juggernaut’s logo. Available in 6061 or 7075, and either raw or anodized in several Raw (tumbled) or anodized proper centering of the
colors. Note that Juggernaut does not charge extra for 7075. (black, FDE or camo) receiver in the jig. There are
msrP: three top adapter plates
$155 (raw) for the various operations.
$165 (anodized black, FDE, Laser-etched markings on the
or pink) side plates indicate which
$175 (anodized camo) drill bits to use. The jig was
compatible with all of the
lowers in this guide; however,
it may not completely enclose
all billet lowers — for
instance, the TR Enabling’s
rather large trigger guard
protrudes beneath the jig.
The optional tooling package
includes four Cobalt drill bits
(0.484, 0.375, 0.156, 0.125-
inch) and two carbide end
mills (3⁄8, ¼-inch).
modeL:
Universal Jig
Finish:
Anodized
msrP:
$140 (jig)
$85 (tooling)
UrL:
www.jtactical.com
 seLF-reLiance

ke arms
KE Arms makes forged and billet 80-percent lowers. The forged
receiver is exactly what you’d expect, and the billet lower looks
pretty similar. As a result, of the billet lowers in this guide, KE
Arms’ offering was compatible with most other jigs, working with all
but Tactical Machining’s jig and 80% Arms’ Easy Jig (which is not
intended to be universal).
12
is su e

056
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

modeL:
Forged 80-Percent KE-15
Lower
maTeriaL:
7075 (forged)
Finish:
Raw (tumbled) or black
anodized
msrP:
$100 ($80 on sale, raw)
$120 ($100 on sale, anodized)

modeL: The jig from KE Arms has steel modeL:

Billet 80-Percent KE-15 Lower bushings to drill the pins and selector KE-15 80-Percent Finishing Jig
maTeriaL: hole. It also has convenient etchings maTeriaL:
7075 to remind you of which tooling to 7075
Finish: use. There are two top plates with Finish:
Raw (tumbled) or black templates to mill out the fre-control Anodized
anodized pocket and trigger hole. The jig does msrP:
msrP: completely enclose integral trigger $150 ($130 on sale)
$130 ($96 on sale, raw) guards on the other billet lowers and is UrL:
$150 ($120 on sale, anodized) compatible with all but three of them. www.kearms.com
AFTER 35 YEARS, WE HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS:

THANK YOU.

BUILT IN AMERICA. RESPECTED ON THE RANGE.

PROVEN IN THE FIELD.
WE’VE BEEN BUILDING MODERN SPORTING
RIFLES FOR 35 YEARS. AND WE’RE JUST
GETTING STARTED.

© 2013 BUSHMASTER FIREARMS INTERNATIONAL - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BUSHMASTER.COM

 seLF-reLiance

TacTicaL machininG
Tactical Machining sticks to the Tactical Machining’s jig features
basics with a traditional forged side plates with steel drill
80-percent lower — there’s bushings for the hammer pin,
nothing wrong with that, and it’s trigger pin, and safety selector
also the cheapest in this guide hole. It has three top plates for
to boot. You can select between the additional operations. The
raw and black anodized. The side plates are a little too short
magwell features additional to enclose the integral trigger
beveling. guards on billet lowers.
modeL: modeL:
80-Percent AR-15 Lower Receiver 80-Percent AR-15 Jig Gen 2
maTeriaL: Finish:
7075 (forged) Anodized
Finish: msrP:
Raw (deburred and tumbled) or $90
black anodized UrL:
msrP: www.tacticalmachining.com
$78 (raw)
$88 (anodized)
12
is su e

058
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

Tr enaBLinG
TR Enabling’s billet 80-percent receiver has TR Enabling’s jig is also the most economical
some chunky styling cues with a large integral of the bunch. It has two side plates and
trigger guard, fared magwell, pin and set a single top plate with templates for the
screw for the bolt catch, and a threaded rear milling operations. The top plate secures
takedown pin detent hole. It is only available with screws and fips around to line up for
in raw tumbled form and is the cheapest billet the appropriate cuts. The jig fully encloses
lower in this guide. the integral trigger guard.
modeL: modeL:
80-Percent AR-15 Lower Receiver AR-15 Milling Jig
maTeriaL: Finish:
6061 Raw
Finish: msrP:
Raw (tumbled) $69
msrP: UrL:
$95 ($79 on sale) www.tr-enabling.com
 THE MS1
SLING SYSTEM
COMPONENTS
MS1 SLING - MSRP $34.95

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 Law
12
is su e
060
abiding
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Yep, 80-percent Lowers Are 100-percent Kosher
As the old axiom goes, knowledge
is power. So, empower your arsenal
by building your own frearm from
an 80-percent lower receiver. Make
your own gun? “Isn’t that illegal?” you
might ask. Well, actually, it’s not. Ac-
cording to federal law, it’s completely
legal to make your own frearm.
Under the Gun Control Act of 1968
(GCA), an individual can make a fre-
arm for personal use. Surprised? If you
By RECOIL Staff
are, you need to read on and fnd out a partially formed lower receiver that
more about what you can and can’t do requires the owner to tool in the miss-
with an 80-percent lower. Because, as ing 20 percent — hence the name.
Disclaimer
While we always strive Duke taught us in the ’80s, knowing is This usually means you’ll have to drill
to report the most half the battle. or machine out the fre-control pocket,
accurate information,
laws can change as well as drill holes for the trigger,
and vary from state
to state. Always
What’s an 80-percent safety selector, hammer pin, and trig-
double-check the laws loWer? ger pin. Once you’ve done that, you
in your region and
seek out professional Think of it as an incomplete have a working lower that you can use
legal counsel when sculpture that still needs some stone to assemble a frearm.
necessary.
to be chipped away. Essentially, it’s

hoW is this legal?
Because the federal government says
so. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has
determined that 80-percent lowers are
not frearms. In the eyes of the law, it’s
just a blank piece of material, for all
intents and purposes.
so an 80-percent loWer is
not a firearm, but can i
build a firearm from it?
Yep — at least from the federal
government’s point of view. (Check your
state laws for restrictions.) The GCA
states that an unlicensed individual
can make a frearm as defned in the
GCA for personal use, but not for sale
or distribution. That means it’s kosher
to complete an 80-percent lower and
12
assemble a working frearm from it, so
is su e
long as:
it’s for personal use: No gifting,
transferring, or willing it to relatives.
062 You build it yourself: You can’t bribe
Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor to do the
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
dirty work for you.
You’re not prohibited from owning a
frearm: Sorry, felons, but there’s no
loophole here for you to exploit. If
you’re already prohibited from owning
a regular frearm, the same penal-
ties apply to possessing one that you
made yourself.
do i need to put a serial
number on it?
Nope. Serial numbers are only
required on guns sold and distributed
by licensed manufacturers. “Individuals
manufacturing sporting-type frearms
for their own use need not hold federal
frearms licenses,” says the ATF, though
offcials there suggest that you “at
least identify the frearm with a serial
number as a safeguard in the event that
the frearm is lost or stolen.”
Another reason why you might want a
unique marking on your lower is for fu-
ture service or repair. It’ll be a lot easier
for a gunsmith or coating company to
keep track of your receiver, and some
may be uncomfortable working on an
unmarked lower.
can i sell mY 80-percent
loWer?
Sure. If it’s still in 80-percent form,
then it’s not a frearm and you’re free to
sell it just like you would smartphones
or silver bullion — or like that vintage
Walkman you had hoped would become
a collector’s item…but didn’t.
can i sell mY finished
80-percent loWer?
This question has been a source of
much haranguing on the Interwebs. The
ATF says that “a frearm may be made
by a non-licensee provided it is not for
sale and the maker is not prohibited
from possessing frearms.” The key
phrase being “provided it is not for
sale.” The question here is not whether
you can sell it, but whether you had the
intent to sell it before fnishing it.
If a court can be persuaded that
you did indeed have that intent, then
you can kiss your liberty goodbye for a
while. While this may be a tough one to
prove, we are not about to add to the
body of case law on this subject, so
none of our personally made frearms
will ever end up on GunBroker.com or
the Revolvr app. However, if you do
decide to sell a homemade lower at
some point, and if your state allows it,
you will then need to engrave on the
receiver your name (or recognized ab-
breviation), a serial number, the caliber
of the frearm, and the city and state
where you made it.
does this sale need to go
through an ffl?
No, not under federal law, so long as
you’re selling it to someone who lives in
your state. “When a transaction takes
Law abiding
place between private (unlicensed) per-
sons who reside in the same state, the
GCA does not require any recordkeep-
ing,” the ATF says. “It is not necessary
under federal law for a federal frearms
licensee (FFL) to assist in the sale or
transfer when the buyer and seller are
‘same-state’ residents.” Your state may
have additional restrictions or require-
ments, so make sure you research them.
can i use mY 80-percent
loWer to build a full-auto,
short-barreled rifle With-
out anY big brother inter-
ference?
Negative. All other frearm laws
— i.e. the National Firearms Act and
regulations in your state, county, and
municipality — still apply.
Making a full-auto frearm can score
you an unpaid vacation to Club Fed. If
you want to make an SBR from your
80-percent receiver, you’ll need to get
the ATF’s approval and pay the $200
tax stamp for building an NFA gun.
Always check the laws in your area frst.
looking for Your oWn
80-percent loWer?
Quick, go to our buyer’s guide on
page 48 for more.
hoW do i finish an
80-percent loWer?
Funny you should ask. Check out
this issue’s “DIY” on Page 40 for a
step-by-step walkthrough on how to
complete your own.
SourceS
bureau of alcohol, tobacco,
firearms, and explosives
www.atf.gov
united states code
(title 18, chapter 44)
uscode.house.gov
 Remington ResuRRects a WWi Design.
12
geoRge Patton WoulD aPPRove.
is su e
By IaIn HarrIson
PhotograPhy By Kenda LenseIgne
064
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
The late 19th and early 20th centuries
were a golden age of frearms design.
The self-contained metallic cartridge
was the spark that fred up the imagina-
tions of engineering luminaries, such as
Maxim, Mauser, Spencer, Lee, Hotch-
kiss, and Henry, to name but a few.
And then there’s the man described by
John Browning as “the greatest frearm
designer in the world.” That man was
John Pedersen and had he lived today,
in addition to being fabulously wealthy,
he would no doubt have his own reality
TV show.
Let’s see, frst wife a decorated war
hero and model who was a published
author and broadcaster? Check. Son a
Marine offcer who bought a racehorse
to use as an ammo carrier in amphibi-
ous landings during the Korean War?
Check. Designed a cartridge that
should have replaced the .30-06, as
well as a conversion unit that turned
the M1903 Springfeld into a subma-
chine gun? Check and check. You can’t
make this stuff up. Pedersen may have
been the unluckiest gun designer ever,
constantly thwarted by a combination of
fate, bad timing, and politics. Perhaps
his most successful design, the Rem-
ington Model 51 was overshadowed
by simpler blowback alternatives that,
while inferior in terms of engineering,
did have the notable advantage of being
cheaper. And when you’re trying to sell
in guns in the Great Depression, every
nickel counts.
It was this design that Remington
looked to when it wanted a single-stack
9mm to cater to the concealed carry
market — although there are no parts
that interchange with the earlier model,
the lineage is readily apparent.
Armed Ancestry
Pedersen’s delayed blowback action
is unique among the operating systems
that have been crammed into a hand-
gun. At the moment of ignition, the bul-
let starts moving down the bore, and (if
you recall high school physics) an equal
and opposite force is exerted on the
breech face by the case head. In Peder-
sen’s design, the breechblock and the
slide are two separate parts, locked to-
gether by a pair of lugs. The two travel
backwards about .020 inch before the
breechblock hits a ledge in the frame
and its rearward travel then comes to
an abrupt halt. When the block stops,
the slide continues backwards and, as
it does, forces the breechblock’s lugs
out of engagement, unlocking the two
components and sending the slide on
its merry way to eject the empty case
and pick up a fresh one.
The distance that the slide and
breechblock travel while locked
together is critical. Too little and the
slide doesn’t pick up enough velocity
to cycle; too much and the gun beats
itself to death in short order.
Although Browning’s system of lock-
ing slide to barrel via either a swinging
link or a cam surface on the barrel
is sue 12 Rec o ilw e b .c o m
065

under-lug has been copied by just
about everyone and his dog, prior to
Remington’s engineers dusting off his
blueprints, Pedersen’s locking system
had been used in exactly three models
— which is a shame, because it offers
some very real advantages.
Chief among these is its exception-
ally low bore axis. By placing the
pistol’s barrel close to the centerline
of the shooter’s wrist, perceived recoil
and muzzle fip are greatly reduced.
Put one next to a Glock and you’ll see
a noticeable difference in grip to barrel
height; in comparison to HK or SIG
SAUER designs, the R51’s bore is lower
than a politician’s morals. Because
the R51’s barrel doesn’t need to move
vertically in order to unlock, it can be
fxed to the frame. While that vertical
12
unlocking distance is comparatively
is su e
small in the grand scheme of things, it
still counts. And because the barrel is
static, the recoil spring can be wound
066 around it, again freeing up space that
would otherwise be occupied by a guide
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
rod and dropping the bore even further.
The net result is a 9mm that recoils like
a locked-breech .380 and recovers onto
the target almost as fast as a compen-
sated gun.
revAmped FeAtures
Remington has clearly gone after the
market segment currently dominated
by the Ruger LC9 and Smith & Wesson
M&P Shield. These single-stack nines
hit the sweet spot between ease of con-
cealment and shootability, though each
has different comparative strengths and
weaknesses.
Both are polymer-framed, reliable,
dehorned, and slim, and their magazines
offer adequate capacity. The Ruger is
affordably priced and the thinnest of
the three, but unfortunately, corporate
lawyers got a hold of it during the design
process. As a result it’s saddled with a
loaded chamber indicator, magazine-
disconnect safety, thumb safety, and
idiot warnings plastered on the frame.
You kinda get the feeling they should
also include a refective belt and a hard
hat in the shipping box, just to be extra
safe. The little Smith also has a manual
safety, though the chief criticism of it
is that its grip resembles a bar of soap.
One of the frst things we did with ours
was to stipple it. So, room for improve-
ment then...
Let’s look at the revamped, alloy-
framed Remington. One of the frst
features you see when picking up the
pistol are the sights, or at least they
should be, as in this case, they’re enor-
mous. The front-sight blade measures a
whopping 0.175 inches wide, which on
a defensive gun is a good thing. Rather
than being a production unit, our test
gun shipped from Remington’s R&D
department, so we’ll give it a pass on
the front sight installation — it was so
far off to the right in its dovetail that
we had to hold on the edge of an IPSC
target in order to hit the A zone at 20
yards.
We’d be happy to buy a beer for
whoever designed the rear sight,
however. It’s smoothly contoured rear
profle is snag-proof, while the leading
edge forms a 90-degree angle to the
slide and gives plenty of surface to
catch a belt or boot heel, in order to
perform one-handed stoppage drills.
Wings on either side provide protection
and shadow to the blade. Although we
usually take a Sharpie to the rear-sight
dots on our personal guns, three-dot
sights demystify the aiming process for
new shooters, so it’s good to see them
on a pistol in this market segment. The
only micro nine available with a better
sighting arrangement is the Springfeld
XD-S, which ships with a fber-optic
front sight as standard and a much
higher price tag.
The R51’s slide is profled appro-
priately for a carry gun and features
Old Is New AgAIN
swooping lightening cuts that hark back
to its ancestor’s time — some people
will like the styling and no doubt others
will hate it. Rear grasping grooves are
similarly curved and offer good pur-
chase for manipulation. We’d previously
shot prototype R51s at a press junket
and were impressed with how little ef-
fort it took to rack their slides. So I was
surprised when the test sample showed
up — cycling the gun initially felt like
dragging an anvil over a gravel driveway.
Fortunately, this lessened as parts wore
in. Following an extended range ses-
sion, it disappeared completely and the
Despite being more pistol became buttery smooth.
crooked than the What didn’t improve was the trigger.
NYS legislature, the
R51’s sights proved On the test gun it came in at almost
to be bold and easy 8 pounds, way too heavy for a single-
to acquire. As this
action, and it has about 1⁄8 inch of
preproduction gun
ran almost fawlessly, over-travel after the break. Reset is
we’ll forgive it this one
completely indistinct and requires the
time...
shooter to allow the trigger to return
almost to its resting point before the
next shot can be fred. The good news
is that it should take about 30 minutes
to correct two of these three faults, as
the metal trigger bow can be drilled
and tapped for a set screw and the sear
cleaned up with minimal effort. Expect
to see gunsmiths offering this service
about an hour or so after production
guns arrive in stores. In terms of us-
ability, the R51 trigger ranks around
mid-pack with the Smith pulling ahead,
in stock form at least.
Other controls are unobtrusive and
well thought out. The magazine release
is ambidextrous, low-profle, and well-
shrouded. There’s no way you’re going
to accidentally dump your ammo, but
when it’s time to get rid of an empty
mag, the grooved and elongated surface
is easy to fnd. Were this the only pistol
in the safe, I’d probably use my trigger
fnger to hit the button, as doing so
means not having to break my grip on
the reload. The slide release can be ma-
nipulated very easily and, unlike either
Old Is New AgAIN
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 Old Is New AgAIN

of the other two comparison handguns,

can be readily disengaged with the
thumb. If you prefer not to slingshot
the slide on a reload, congratulations,
you’ve just found your pistol.
The R51 comes equipped with a
grip safety only, and it’s been amusing
to read various Internet commandos
criticize the gun for this feature without,
of course, taking the trouble to actually
shoot it. Unlike say, a 1911, there’s
almost no chance you’re going to fail
to disengage the safety, as it encom-
passes the entire backstrap — if you’re
holding the gun at all, then you’ve
almost certainly depressed the lever.
If, by some chance you’ve managed
to raise the weapon with your pal-
lid, feeble, matchstick arms and still
managed to keep it on safe, then an
12

8-pound trigger acting directly opposite

is su e

a 5-pound grip safety means that

something’s going to give.
For those of us who carry in the ap-
070 pendix position, the R51 gives an extra
measure of security when it comes time
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

to re-holster. By relocating your master
grip thumb over the rear of slide so that
the pad rests on the rear sight, the slide
is forced to remain in battery while the
grip safety kicks in, thus increasing
both the chances of keeping the family
jewels intact and of our handgun going
bang when we next need it.
When it comes to feld stripping the
little nine, RTFM. Seriously. If you at-
tempt to rely on any of your years of ex-
perience with Browning designs, you’ll
wind up swearing profusely. Nowhere
near Ruger Mark III level of profanity,
but enough to make an unfavorable im-
pression on small children. Once you’ve
read, learned, and inwardly digested
the instructions handily packaged with
the gun, stripping is straightforward and
relatively easy. Ask any law student.
On pulling the gun apart, you’ll no-
tice grooves machined into the barrel’s
exterior and say aloud, “Self, due to
this pistol’s fxed barrel, it would make
an excellent suppressor host.” And
you’d be pleased to learn that AAC is
way ahead of you on that count. In fact,
the R51 project started out in AAC’s
skunk works and was picked up by big
green when they bought the company,
so expect to see factory threaded tubes
in the not-too-distant future.
conceAled perFormAnce
As this is primarily a defensive pistol,
the defning performance factor should
be reliability. At the range, we fed it
everything in the ammo stash, from
light 115-grain target loads all the way
up to 147-grain +P+ reloads that make
“Major” power factor out of a 4.5-inch
barrel.
The only stoppage encountered was
from one particular magazine, which
would lock the slide open with certain
ammo types with one round remaining.
Apart from that one notable excep-
tion, both ball and hollowpoints were
consumed with equal alacrity.
Accuracy was decent — no worse
or better than its rivals and running
about 2 inches at 15 yards. If the trig-
ger were improved, we’d expect to see
groups shrink a little. One improvement
to the gun’s ergonomics that should be
high on the list for anyone with large
hands would be to bevel the rearmost
portion of the slide rails. That low bore
axis turns the slide into a pretty effec-
tive DNA sampling tool, though we’re
pleased to report that the R51’s fnish
appears to be completely unaffected
by blood.
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 Old Is New AgAIN

There are a lot of people who are

going to want to buy the R51. Due to
its ease of manipulation, this would be
an excellent handgun for new shooters,
or anyone intimidated by the amount
of force required to rack the slide on a
full-sized pistol. And given that women
are the fastest-growing audience for the
industry, we reckon Remington has just
hit a homerun. The R51 is big enough to
shoot well (and recoils less than anything
else in its category), yet it’s not so large
that baboon hands are required to reach
the trigger. It’s fat enough to almost
disappear in a concealment holster, so
anyone wanting a CCW should give it
serious consideration. And if, like us,
you love designs that are a little bit out
of left feld, then it’s worth adding to the
collection just as a piece of history.
Safety DiSclaimer
The tactics shown are for illustrative purposes only. Seek
professional training or instruction before attempting any
techniques discussed or shown in this story.

Hands on
self-defense is not a game. if you’re in
a life-and-death situation, the moves
you use must work right then and there
— and deliver performance on demand.
in writing this article, i took a step back
and decided to provide a best-of-the-
best set of techniques that aren’t just
extremely effective in a high-stress situ-
ation, but are also easy to deploy.
These are the moves i teach to my
dearest loved ones and in my classes.
These are also my personal go-to moves
for when i have to save my own ass. The
reasons for this are simple:
They are easy to remember
They are easy to train (and retain)
They are applicable in most self-
defense situations
GoinG
and
all in
They flat out work (having all been
pressure-tested in high-intensity
roleplaying — or in real-life attacks)
one thing to consider up front is that
while we all lovingly overuse the phrase
“add another tool to your toolbox,”
there are downsides to adding too
many. several studies over the years
have indicated that the decision-making
process is actually slowed when the
decision maker has too many possible
choices. For example, if you had to
respond to a question (or respond to
an attack!) and only had one answer
or move to use, then your response
would be faster than if you have three
potential choices. my suggestion:
Pressure-test everything and find self-
defense responses that work for you —
Top Five
Go-To Moves everyone
needs in Their
selF-deFense Toolbox
By Mike Seeklander
is su e
PhotograPhy By Corey laCk
12
075
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
then eliminate all of the fluff. Train
hard with what actually works. while
it is good to have a backup move and
flexibility, sometimes being really good
at just a few moves will serve you better
than being able to do a bunch of things
with mediocre ability.
on to the self-defense techniques.
First, credit where it is due. These
moves are a collection of techniques i
have learned, trained, helped evolve,
and/or absorbed from a host of
written, video, and in-person sources.
i credit those who i can remember
in the sections for each technique,
and i apologize to any i may have
inadvertently overlooked. many years of
blows to the head will do that to a guy.
 GoinG Hands on and all in

Go-To Move #1: Where I learned it: This move has

The CaGe
been around in one form or another
since humans have been punching
each other in the grape. i originally
learned it in kickboxing and boxing
(from Tommy mossman in Jacksonville,
North carolina) although this particular
technique is slightly modifed to protect
against empty-handed strikes. i did
learn a version of this from a big boy
named steve Rizzo years ago. He
called his particular move “horns of the
bull,” which described the way he used
to cover his head and drive his huge
forearms and elbows into my chest.

Why I use it: The cage is an incredibly

simple, effective, bilateral defense
against the majority of punches that
someone would throw at your head.
The move is simply the best defensive
12

move against almost any punch that

is su e

someone might throw at you. it works

against a punch from either hand, and
if executed properly will set you up for a
076 counterstrike or clinch move. The cage
is not a move that you would use for
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

minutes at a time, but rather a sudden

defense that lets you transition to a
counterassault. one caution: watch for
the uppercut — a trained boxer can at
times slip one in if you are static and
not responding after the initial assault.

How I use it:

1. Try to keep your hands as high as or
higher than your attacker’s.
2. when a strike is thrown, reach
up and grab the back of your head,
allowing your forearms to make contact
with the sides of your forehead. Drop
your chin down near your chest.
3. Keep your elbows close enough
together to prevent a fst from passing in
between them.
4. maintain a low center of gravity and
drive the points of your elbows in the
direction of the attacker.
5. Respond with a clinch move or
counterstrikes.
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Palm
Palm
12
is su e
078
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Go-To Move #2:
palMs,Knees,elbows
Where I learned them: These strikes have
been taught and tested for centuries and
evolved over the years. i frst learned them
from my frst instructor, Tommy mossman.
Through the years i have refned them to
an extent for closer ranges.
Why I use them: These strikes work against
vulnerable targets at varying ranges. There
are a million striking methods taught in
different martial arts. i am not advocating
that you not learn other strikes, just saying
that if you have developed the palm, knee,
and elbow strikes to a high level, then you
don’t need much more. i train these three
strikes most of the time. The angles they
can be thrown from will vary based on the
circumstance.
GoinG Hands on and all in
Knee
Elbow
Elbow
How I use them:
1. use your hips to generate power.
2. Keep your body weight forward.
3. Practice these strikes by throwing them from a caged position (see move #1).
4. strike hard and fast:
Palm: i recommend a palm strike rather than a fst, unless you condition your
knuckles to take the impact against a skull. Keep your thumb tucked against
your hand so you don’t accidentally catch it on something and break it. strike
with the meaty portion of the palm and drive the palm in and up. if you can
drive your opponent’s head back or to the side, you will have a better chance
to disrupt your target.
Knee: control your opponent’s head by grabbing the back of it and squeezing
your forearms together (there are other ways you might learn in a good muay
Thai or mmA gym). Drive your knee straightforward and up. Target the groin
area or inner/upper thighs. The knee is a great disruption strike when you are
in a standing clinch (i.e. wrestling on your feet).
elbow: Thrown much like the palm, but for ranges half the distance. elbows
thrown with an open fst tend to cut more, as this exposes more of the bone
around your upper forearm and elbow area. strike with the hardest portion
of the elbow, around an inch down the forearm from the tip of your elbow
capsule. when throwing, drop your hand and drive your elbow in a circular
motion, “dropping” it on top of the face.
 GoinG Hands on and all in

Go-To Move #3:

draG, drive,
and draw
Where I learned it: The term “drag, drive,
draw” describes a series of moves i learned
from some excellent instructors at the u.s.
shooting Academy. i began to train this move
after learning it from mike brown and brandon
bennet (Tulsa, oklahoma). They both advise
that the technique was originally signifcantly
developed and taught by craig Douglas (AKA
“southnarc”). i also refned and learned
variations of it while training with Virgil litteral
(Tulsa Police Department Defensive Tactics)
and his staff.

Why I use it: This is an effective method of

getting your handgun into action while in a
physical fght. The move is used when the
12

mutual combat of the situation has dictated

is su e

that you might be losing the fght, or you

believe that your opponent is armed with
a weapon and might access it. it must be
080 understood that some of the old methods of
striking and speed drawing oftentimes fail
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

against a motivated attacker.

How I use it:

1. The move will more than likely be set
up from the cage position, following some
counterstrikes, and from some variation of a
standing clinch.
2. set your gun hand up over the top of your
opponent’s arm on the same side.
3. control the arm and run it down to the wrist.
4. Push your opponent’s arm down and across
your body, setting up for the underhook.
5. underhook and drag their arm through,
while turning your body perpendicular to theirs
and preparing to “drive.”
6. Drive them toward a wall, obstacle, or even
the ground to allow you to keep them from
spinning out of the move.
7. Draw your handgun only when you have
driven them into an obstacle or put them off
balance enough that you have time to access
your gun. if you draw too early, you risk losing
your gun!
 GoinG Hands on and all in

Go-To Move #4:

weapon
sTrip 101
Where I learned it: This move was shown
to me by Virgil litteral (Tulsa Police
Department Defensive Tactics).

Why I use it: This is an incredibly easy

method to strip the hands of an attacker
off your weapon or to strip the bad guy’s (or
your) weapon out of his hands while still in a
standing clinch.

How I use it:

1. maintain control of the gun by frmly
gripping it if it is your gun, or by grabbing
the slide if it’s the assailant’s.
2. Drive the gun away from your body and
slightly downward.
12

3. bring your knee up and around the gun

is su e

driving your shin bone into your opponent’s

forearm, just above the gun.
4. Drive the knee forward and down, while
082 continuing to hold the gun. The gun will strip
out of their hands.
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

5. counterstrike and/or move! Don’t fall into

the trap of presenting the gun back toward
them, allowing them to grab it again.

about tHe
autHor
mike seeklander is the author of
Your Defensive Handgun Training
Program, a cutting edge, functional
handgun-training program designed
to develop the skills needed to win a
fght. covering mental and physical
preparation, frearm skill develop-
ment drills, and offering critical
information designed to train every
aspect needed to survive, the book
can be found on Amazon.com.
www.shooting-performance.com
facebook.com/olightworld

olightworld.com/m22
 GoinG Hands on and all in

Go-To Move #5:

brinG The blade

Where I learned it: mike Janich, founder of martial
blade concepts, designed this move. i originally
learned it at the martial blade camp he holds yearly
in colorado.

Why I use it: it’s a very easy-to-learn move with a

knife that can be used against an opponent armed
with an impact weapon or knife. Per Janich, the
“master technique” of martial blade concepts
teaches a defense against the most common
contact weapon attack — a right forehand attack
to your head or neck — and proper targeting to
achieve stopping power.

How I use it:

1. when the attacker swings an impact weapon, the
defender frst targets the fexor tendons or muscles
12

of the forearm to destroy the attacker’s grip on the

is su e

weapon.
2. if that does not fnish the fght, the defender
follows with a backhand cut to the triceps muscle to
084 disable the attacker’s ability to wield the hammer.
3. A fnal cut to the quadriceps muscle just above
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

the knee destroys the leg’s ability to support weight

and movement.
4. These tactics “stop” the attacker decisively yet
do not necessarily endanger his life.

TraIn Hard, TraIn ofTen

i hope that these incredibly simple yet effective
techniques will give you some go-to moves to train
and integrate into your system. if you are new
to this kind of stuff, i strongly recommend you
adopt these techniques along with a few additional
weapon and empty-handed moves, then focus on
practicing them until you can refexively pull them
off under stress against a motivated attacker. Also,
seeking qualifed professional instruction is always
recommended.
And last but not least, an important reminder:
The best technique in the world will not work in any
situation unless you take the time to learn it right
and practice it often. Don’t take your self-defense
for granted. Take it personally!
until then, train hard.
 12

Blowout
is su e

086
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

How to Buy or Build a Better

individual First-aid Kit
By DaviD ReeDeR
PhotograPhy By Jae Gillentine and JoDy lewis

considering the law of averages,
a medical kit is probably a more
important everyday carry (eDc) item
than just about anything else, including
a knife or a gun.
There, i said it. A blowout kit or iFAK
(individual frst-aid kit) is just as, if not
more, important than a frearm — at
least when it comes to the probability
of carrying something and actually
needing to use it.
before anyone gets upset and
reaches for their keyboard to complain,
stop and consider. which one are you
more likely to need, and which one
It doesn’t matter preaches the phrase “Train like you
whether your blowout bleed.” if you don’t have some provision
kit comes complete
for an iFAK handy, you should consider
from a specifc
company or individu- it — on your person, in your laptop bag,
ally assembled in a your backpack, or your car. with just a
kid’s backpack; what
little effort you can make preparations
matters is what’s in
it, whether it’s acces- for saving a life, possibly your own.
sible, and whether you
know how to use it. InsIde an IFaK
There are many medical kits available
under various names — blowout kits,
trauma kits, iFAKs, etc. You can also,
as Davis says, “Roll your own.” The
semantics really don’t matter. what
matters is the content and the ability
to use it.
The key here is having the ability
to use your medical kit. The frst time
you try to cinch down the windlass of a
combat Application Tourniquet (c-A-T)
with your non-dominant hand shouldn’t
is su e
be while you’re trying to stop an arterial
bleed on your other arm. “i can’t hand
12
you a craftsman toolbox and say,
‘You’re a mechanic now,’” Davis says.
“we need to have the necessary tools
087
and know how to use them.”
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
so, what are those necessary tools?
At a fundamental level, it’s just six,
maybe seven, things. Your kit should
contain:
Gloves
bandages
Hemostatic agents
Tourniquets (TQs)
would you rather have immediately occlusive devices
accessible? or would you rather have Nasal airway
both? looking at it from another (Decompression needle, if certifed)
angle: if you carry a gun, do you keep it’s important that the kit be simple,
something handy to plug holes? if you robust, and organized. it should be
carry a knife, do you have something to lightweight, durable, compact, and easy
treat a stab or slash? if you drive a car, to use.
are you prepared to deal with injuries As Davis points out in his classes,
caused by a wreck? According to the you don’t have to have a mobile trauma
u.s. Department of Transportation, room on you to save a life. The more
32,367 people died in traffc crashes crap you’re carrying, the harder it
throughout the nation in 2011 — more will be to fnd what you need when
than three times the number of frearm- you need it. This is why Dark Angel’s
related homicides that same year. medical kits all bear the phrase
Kerry Davis of Dark Angel medical “simplicity under stress.”

The Tools
Gloves: Your gloves are the frst to go
12
on and last to come off. They should be
is su e
thick and need to be made of a nitrile
material, not latex. That last thing you
need is for some poor bastard to go into
088 anaphylactic shock from a latex allergy
just as you get his arterial bleed sorted.
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Bandages: There are many choices
for bandages — israeli “izzy”
bandages, the olAes bandage,
packing gauze (e.g. Kerlix), AbD pads,
Ace-type compression bandages,
and many others. one of Davis’
preferred bandages is the izzy.
it’s a multifunction bandage that
compresses, absorbs, and can act as a
TQ adjunct (with its pressure bar and
surface area).
“You should also know how to make
a feld expedient dressing,” Davis says,
“whether it’s a handkerchief or a strip
of torn T-shirt. if you don’t have an AbD
pad, maybe someone has a maxi-pad
in her purse — it can hold roughly 250
cubic centimeters of blood. if it’s all
you’ve got, it’s all you’ve got. You’ve got
to dance with who brung ya.”
hemostatic agents: Hemostatic
agents are often used with TQs
for large, life-threatening bleeds,
and typically reinforced with a
pressure dressing of some kind for
reinforcement. They attract blood like
a sponge and assist the body’s own
clotting ability. such agents include
Quikclot, celox, Hemcon, Actcel,
and relative newcomer sTF (salmon
Thrombin-Fibrin). The delivery system
is what you should be considering
here (meaning how it is applied to the
wound), though cost is also a concern.
Thankfully, hemostatics have evolved
past the exothermic granular powder
days (for instance, early iterations
Blowout
of Quikclot contained the anhydrous
mineral zeolite and would generate
a lot of heat when used — though
the combat casualties whose lives
were saved are damn sure happy
to have had it). Granular delivery is
problematic under windy conditions
or in the presence of prop wash. The
latest versions often take the form of
impregnated bandages, though some
are still available in granular and some
in injected forms.
celox Rapid is made from activated
chitosan and initial reports are that it
is very effective. sTF acts almost like a
vaso-seal (in simplest terms like a tube
patch on a bike tire) so distal circulation
isn’t impaired. unfortunately, neither
of the latter two have been approved
by coTc3 (committee on Tactical
combat casualty care) yet, and sTF is
extremely expensive — so neither have
become common in military circles.
Note that the expiration date on
most of this stuff is based primarily on
sterility, not effcacy.
 Blowout

Tourniquets (TQs): Among the most
common TQs here in the united states
are the c-A-T, soFTT-w, swAT-T, and
NATo. The goal of any TQ is to halt
extremity hemorrhaging to prevent
someone from “bleeding out,” which
itself is not an unduly diffcult task.
what should affect your choice is, frst,
its diffculty to put on one-handed (i.e.
self-application). second, and it’s a
distant second, is how it will be carried
and deployed. A TQ with a polymer
windlass, for instance, may not be the
right choice if carried for hours on end
in the bright sun. such a TQ is the
c-A-T, in our opinion the simplest style
to use one-handed.
12
strap and the width of the constriction
band provides broader compression
than other TQs.
The swAT-T (stretch wrap and Tuck
Tourniquet) has seen a lot of use by the
military. it is extremely wide, increasing
compression, but can be very awkward
to use one-handed if you’re not well
practiced. Though not our frst choice
for an immediate action TQ, the
swAT-T has the advantage of being
small and lightweight so you can stick it
in your pocket for eDc.
The eponymous NATo TQ seems to
refect the organization that provides
its name — though it works effectively,
it is unnecessarily complicated, far
from intuitive and painstakingly slow to
deploy. You should defnitely practice
with this one. Though it would be our

last commercial choice, you should

Discreet
is su e

know how to use one (you never know

what you’ll fnd in someone else’s kit).

Blowout
occlusive devices (and other items):
090 HAlo seals are one example of

Kit
Another windlass-style TQ is the reputable seals. They are adhesive and
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

soFTT-w (special operations Forces will maintain an occlusive seal under

Tactical Tourniquet-wide), a strong TQ austere conditions. These dressings
Another “minimalist” iFAK is the mini that is well suited for leg applications. are designed to provide an air- and
blowout Kit from cleeR medical. it’s its hook-and-buckle design is intended watertight seal, typically used for
intended to be worn as a low-visibility trauma to speed up the threading of the TQ situations such as an open chest wound.
kit on a belt or molle-mounted. it comes in
a pouch utilizing Helium whisper technology
licensed from blue Force Gear, so it’s quite
light. it contains a modifed, compact celox
Rapid dressing, modifed 4-inch pressure
dressing with 24-inch tail, a Fox chest seal,
gloves, and decompression needle. it can
be worn or mounted alongside eleven 10’s
TQ case (on the Rcs moduloader system)
along with a pair of miniature trauma shears
without substantively increasing size or bulk.
The TQ case is currently confgured for the
c-A-T, though soFTT and soFTT-w versions
are coming. This is one of the smallest, most
cleverly designed kits available. The TQ
holder can also be mounted via Rcs paddle,
Tek-lok and/or mAlice clip.

other
options
Grey Ghost Gear has the slim
12
medical Pouch. it’s designed to
is su e
be worn on a plate carrier or other
rig, but can certainly be thrown
in a messenger bag or glovebox.
092 The slim deploys via dual zippers
and a pull tab. it contains two
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
H&H compressed gauze bandages,
Quikclot combat Gauze, 6-inch
israeli bandage, 28 FR NPA,
decompression needle, nitrile
gloves, two HAlo chest seals, two
cAT TQs, and trauma shears.
Rogue Gunfghter’s two kits
are both discreet-style kits; the
low Vis iwb med Kit (inside the
waist band) can be worn inside or
outside the waistband. it contains
a soFTT-w, HAlo chest seal, NPA
28F, Z-pak dressing, shears, gloves,
and a “combat casualty tag,” as well
as choice of celox Rapid dressing or
Quik-clot. The No Vis Ankle medKit
is a damn clever way to carry an
iFAK discreetly (if not to the beach).
it contains a soFTT-w, HAlo chest
seal, NPA 28F, Z-pack dressing,
shears, gloves, combat casualty tag,
and choice of celox-R or Quikclot.
Blowout
A nasal airway is consider a chest decompression
the last item a needle.
trauma kit should
contain; learning Those are the basics of a blowout
how to use it is kit or iFAK. Go to Recoilweb.com for
vital. more in-depth coverage on this topic,
including vehicle kits, in-home family
kits, “bail-out” kits, and other items
you might consider, such as trauma
shears, an iPc (injured Personnel
carrier) from Agilite, sAm splints, and
burn gel.
but the most important thing aside
from owning and carrying an iFAK is
to get trained on how to use it. Host
a Dark Angel medical course or fnd
The last thing a trauma kit should a local reputable instructor. Take
contain is a basic nasal airway (like something more than a basic cPR class,
the NPA 28F nasopharyngeal airway), though that’s a great place to start.
though if the intended user is properly Train like you bleed and have access to
trained and certifed you might also what you need to save a life.
Kerry Davis of
Dark Angel Medi-
cal suggests that
if you’re trained
and certifed,
consider including
a chest decom-
pression needle in
your IFAK.
FoR moRe iN-DePTH coVeRAGe oN THis ToPic, Go To www.ReCoIlweB.CoM.
source
Bound Tree Medical | www.boundtreemedical.com
Chinook Medical Gear | www.chinookmed.com
CleeR Medical | www.cleermedical.com
dark angel Medical | www.darkangelmedical.com
Grey Ghost Gear | www.greyghostgear.com
north american Rescue | www.narescue.com
Rescue essentials | www.rescue-essentials.com
Rogue Gunfghter | www.roguegunfghter.com
Tactical Medical solutions | www.tacmedsolutions.com
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If You Buy Tools Anywhere Else,

You're Throwing Your Money Away
Julie Golob Wears Many Hats —
MotHer, autHor, Military Vet,
sHootinG CHaMpion, aMonG otHers.
but WHat Makes tHis sMitH & Wesson
teaM Captain so Good at tHese
tHinGs is Hard Work.
By Mike Landers
PhotograPhy By Quoc Ha
“It’s hard for me not to smile,” says a grin-
ning Julie Golob amidst the low winter sun
permeating the landscape near her remote
Montana home. Julie’s referring to her
struggle with maintaining the alpha pose
expected of a world-class shooter during a
photo shoot, but an afternoon spent with
her and her family reveals a deeper mean-
ing to the phrase. Anybody with a trigger-
pulling résumé like Julie’s would probably
be grinning ear to ear based on her achieve-
ments alone. But those shooting-sports
triumphs are far from defning her as a
person, who lives the fullest part of her life
beyond the range.
While she is known for her shooting
prowess — including being the only shoot-
er, male or female, to win all six division
titles in the USPSA Nationals — Julie is a
mother, a wife, a military veteran, and one
hell of a cook. While the home she shares
with her husband is adorned with the
expected gun safes and hunting trophies,
it also contains a play area she dubs “Baby
Alcatraz” and a shelf rife with cookbooks,
which vary from The Asian Kitchen to
George Lang’s Cuisine of Hungary. Clearly,
she is a woman of many muses, with shoot-
ing of another kind being a huge part of her
life: photography.
“People think photography is so easy,
but it’s not,” says Golob, who was crowned
the 1999 U.S. Army Female Athlete of the
Year. “And if you want the photos to look
good, you need somebody who knows what
they’re doing. If I have a photo that comes
out good, 99 percent of the time, it’s luck
or because I’ve really set it up.”
Raised in upstate New York, Julie Golob’s
path to success began with volunteering
with her father at the range when she was a
child. While she took an obsessive interest
in shooting, she is quick to point out that
her success was not due to inherent talent.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a natural,” she insists.
“I’m just a really hard worker.” She’s right.
After all, only hard work could net a shooter
more than 50 national, international, and
world titles in seven different disciplines,
and over 120 championship titles in state,
regional, and international competitions. Yet
her heart remains as full as her trophy case,
thanks to her husband and two daughters.
Julie credits much of her success on the
range to the honesty she has within herself,
a quality she says has only been heightened
by her journey into motherhood. “You have
your shooter’s ego, but you have to really
look at your performance — even if you did
well overall — to examine what you could
have done better in order to know what you
need to work on,” she says. “With mother-
is su e
hood, I don’t have the time I used to have,
so my practice sessions are that much
12
more focused in terms of effciency and
adjusting my strengths and weaknesses.”
She’s also dedicated to her other fam-
095
ily, Team Smith & Wesson. As captain of
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
this famed shooting squad, Golob cites
her jovial rapport with teammates Doug
Koenig, Jerry Miculek, and Randi Rogers as
inspirations. With Randi, Julie created and
hosts a podcast called Gun Girl Radio that’s
dedicated to gender-specifc dialogue re-
garding all things shooting. “I actually think
most of our listeners are guys,” jokes Julie
while baking pronghorn sausage bread —
complete with apples, apple mead, herbs,
spinach, cheese, and toasted pine nuts.
(Her husband coined it “Montana Sushi.”)
If that weren’t enough, Julie garnered yet
another title: author. In her book, Shoot:
Your Guide to Shooting and Competition,
Julie offers a bridge for shooting enthusi-
asts into the competition world, giving them
not only an overview of competition styles,
but also a look at essential techniques. The
book has been a success since its release,
with many shooters both novice and experi-
enced singing its praises.

Indeed, Julie seems to always hit
her mark no matter what she does,
although it was the bull’s eye that she
didn’t hit herself that remains her fa-
vorite. “I never expected the pride that
I felt when my oldest daughter shot for
the frst time,” Golob says. “She came
to us wanting to shoot when she was
only 5 years old, and we didn’t let her
for months until we were confdent that
she fully understood the safety rules.
My husband was there every step of the
way for safety and to help her hit her
targets. Of course, I had my camera out
the whole time and was snapping hun-
dreds of photos to capture the moment!
It was really neat.” No wonder it’s hard
for Julie not to smile.
Not content to rest RECOIL: How did you get involved with
on her laurels, Julie shooting when you were growing up?
has been venturing
into the three-gun Julie Golob: I’m a daddy’s girl. I used to
arena recently, along go to the range with my father as a kid.
with fellow Smith & I didn’t shoot much until I got older,
Wesson teammates
but I was always at the range with him
who share the Miculek
surname. Catch up volunteering and working at matches.
with them in RECOIL I started shooting when I was 14. We
issue #7. were a father-daughter team, and we hit
the road. My dad’s a schoolteacher, so
we had the luxury of travelling during
the summers and hitting all the state
matches in the area. I went to my frst
national championship in 1994, and
that’s where I met the coach of the
U.S. Army Action Shooting team. I
was offered a place on the team, and
Halloween of that year I signed up in
the delayed entry program and joined
the Army.
Were you nervous or intimidated to join
the Army?
JG: Yes. I was a straight-A student. I
was into drama and singing, so I wasn’t
really athletic. It was a really big leap
of faith to join the military, and I was
apprehensive about it. But I wanted
to become a national champion, and I
knew the only way I was gonna do that
was if I invested the fve years I signed
up for. I fgured that, at the minimum,
the benefts of it would be receiving
college money and using the G.I. Bill to
pursue my education.
Renaissance Woman
How was the experience? Was there
ever a time that you wanted to quit?
JG: When I signed up, I came in as an
MP because I didn’t have a choice.
I had to go in as an MP or I couldn’t
come in at all. All females had to come
in as military police to go straight to the
Army Marksmanship Unit and all males
had to go to the infantry. Fort McClel-
lan, Alabama, is where I did my basic
training. A lot of enlistments carry a
two-year obligation, and with mine be-
ing fve years, I took it very seriously. I
made it to staff sergeant and was in just
shy of eight years total. It was tough in
a lot of ways since it was the frst time
I had been away from home, but I grew
some thick skin and said, “If I’m gonna
do this, I’m gonna do it right.”
You were named the 1999 Army
Female Athlete of the Year, which is the
frst and only time in history an action
shooter ever received the title. What
was the experience like?
JG: The Action Shooting team at the
Army Marksmanship Unit was pretty
new when I went in. They started in
the early ’90s, and I joined in ’95. By
1999, I was becoming pretty dominant
in winning competitions. Still, the AMU
has always been very Olympic heavy. I
was shocked to even be nominated by
the unit over shooters in the Olympic
disciplines and foored when I was
actually selected. Due to the award, I
travelled to D.C. and got to meet gener-
als and admirals — it was really cool.
Do you think that award opened doors
in any way?
JG: The Army Marksmanship Unit was
maybe 10-percent female at the time,
and I do think it helped to expand the
interest in women signing up. At the
time, the AMU fell under the recruit-
ing command, and we often traveled to
various shows and events to showcase
that side of the Army.
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How did you transition into competing
in USPSA competitions after the Army?
Did you jump in right away?
JG: I was really burned out when I got
out of the Army. It was intense, an
everyday process, and at a certain point
you sort of “fgure out how to win.” And
yet there is this constant barrage of
people coming in and saying, “Oh, no,
you need to do it this way.” That can
be very frustrating and I had enough,
decided that I was done, and was set
on being a schoolteacher. I went to
sign up for my G.I. Bill to go to Auburn
University. It was all set and ready to
go, and then an opportunity to shoot
for fun came up. I found myself going
to local matches and falling in love with
the sport again. Once I began shooting
on my own terms, it became fun again.
How did you come to work for frearm
companies?
PeoPle get obsessed with that miss,
that bad stage, and you have to almost
erase it mentally. diagnose what
haPPened, how you can avoid it from
haPPening again, and find that knowledge
of how you work under Pressure to
understand what you need to do to get
the results you want.
JG: A position at Glock opened up for
the Glock Sports Shooting Foundation.
Then three years later, Smith & Wes-
son offered me a position and also to
become the head of their team. Smith
was actually my frst gun sponsor
when I was a junior shooter, and with
the new job I had the opportunity to
really make a mark as a woman in the
industry.
What do your duties with Smith & Wes-
son entail?
JG: I do a lot of marketing, especially
with social media. I also do some mar-
keting consulting for them, in addition
to managing the shooting team. We
have quite a few shooters, with greats
like Jerry Miculek and Doug Koenig
alongside several other top tier shoot-
ers. Jerry’s a freak of nature — he’s
incredible and so fun to travel with, and
Doug’s reign in Action Pistol is equally
Renaissance Woman
impressive. I learn something every
time I speak with them.
Is there a favorite platform or discipline
for you?
JG: I love what I’m shooting at the time.
If I had to choose one, my favorite
styles of competition would be USPSA/
IPSC-style shooting, mostly because
that’s where I started.
Given your accomplishments and
industry respect, do you feel a respon-
sibility to attract new shooters? Is that
important to you?
JG: One of the good things about our
Smith & Wesson Team is that everybody
on it is so approachable, and that’s
a huge factor in being a pro shooter.
It’s your job to bring people in and to
help make them better. That’s all part
of the experience, although it’s not a
written part of the job description. The
people out there who are only doing it
for themselves fnd that it’s pretty lonely
and cold at the end of the day. The rest
want to be a part of it all, so whether
they teach classes or they’re doing their
thing on the Internet in videos, we’re all
part of a close-knit community with a
common goal.
What do you think have been your
strengths in attracting new shooters?
JG: One of my strengths is probably
how I look — and I mean that in the
sense that if someone doesn’t know I’m
a shooter, it usually comes as a shock.
If I’m out in public and talking to some-
one about shooting, I’ve probably got
mom stuff and diaper bags and I don’t
ft the mold of the grizzled shooter who
most people envision. [Laughs.]
How did you go about developing your
book, Shoot: Your Guide to Shooting
and Competition, and what were your
goals with it?
JG: A literary agent reached out to me
and after we talked about it. I realized
that there wasn’t a book out there that
covered what I wanted to cover for new
shooters looking to get into the shooting
sports. So many people have asked me
in emails about how to get into shooting
sports, so it made a lot of sense to
create something that people could go
to and fnd everything without having
to dig through the Internet. It was a
lot of work; I never imagined it would
be as hard as it was to write as far as
covering all of what I wanted to cover.
It was never meant to be a “how to win
a match” book. It’s more of a manual
for those who are interested in shooting
sports, but don’t know where to start.
Once they have picked one out of the
book, it details the skills they need to
work on to have a good time.
Do you have any career favorite wins or
competition highlights?
JG: There are a few. One of them
wasn’t even a win, actually. I shot the
 Renaissance Woman

highest score I’ve ever shot in the Ac-
tion Pistol Course for the Bianchi Cup
at the World Championships in New
Zealand, a 1,914 out of 1,920. I was on
cloud nine and even though I didn’t end
up winning, I reached a whole new level
for myself. I tend to remember more
of the epiphany moments of my career
than the trophies.
How important is it to be able to recog-
nize those moments in competition as
opposed to just in practice?
JG: I think the ability to do this is what
separates the enduring champions from
everybody else. They can recognize that
even when they are in a tough spot,
they can fx something and go on to do
great things instead of letting frustra-
tion take over. There’s nothing worse
than having a really bad stage. You
start thinking everything is over, but it’s
never over and anything can happen.
That’s the one rule the big dogs realize:
you’re always still in the fght if you
believe that you are.
How has motherhood changed your
competitive life?
JG: I’m not able to compete as much
as I would like to, simply because I
don’t have the time. I’m still hitting
the major matches, but the warm-up
matches I’m not able to get to, which is
tough because it’s even harder to gauge
where I’m at before the big competi-
tions. Still, motherhood has been the
greatest thing to ever happen to me and
I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have
learned to adjust my career to it pretty
well thus far. The hardest thing for me
is that you have your ego in what you
know you used to be able to do, but
after taking two years off with my old-
est daughter; it was such an eye opener
in terms of what I needed to work on.
I came in fourth at nationals, the frst
match out the door, and I was so mad!
[Laughs.] I was beating myself up about
messing up mag changes, moving
slowly. And it’s so funny because now I

i think a lot of times there is this

Preconceived idea of what a Professional
shooter’s life is like. that there’s a lot of
glamour involved, but everybody’s life is
different. you’ve got such a wide range of
PeoPle within the shooting sPorts, and that’s
Part of what makes them so great. we are
almost like our own satellite culture.

look at it differently like, “What do you
expect?! You took two years off and you
still came in fourth!”
Do you have a physical exercise workout
routine to help bring your motor skills
to a competitive level?
JG: Yes. I am a fan of Crossft for all-
around ftness. I also do a lot of agility
drills — the stuff you’d expect football
players to do, a lot of footwork drills. A
lot of people who are trying to elevate
their game, that’s usually their weakest
link. I can tell watching video of some-
body what level action shooter they
are just by watching how they move,
ignoring the targets. If you aren’t light
on your feet and you aren’t able to get
into a position easily, that’s where you
lose a lot of time.
Do you watch videotape of yourself?
JG: Oh defnitely. There are no coaches,
really, in our sport. It’s hard because
you also have to be very honest with
yourself to make a to-do list of what you
need to work on at the range. Consis-
tency will let you know what you’re do-
ing right and what you are doing wrong,
depending on your results.
When did you become involved in
photography?
JG: I got into it when we moved out to
Montana and I had my frst daughter.
We were away from family, so I took
a lot of pictures. My parents don’t get
to see the children too often, so the
Renaissance Woman
as a pictures help a lot. I have nearly 20,000 World Shoot year for me and I hope to
mother, i’m photos uploaded onto Flickr. [Laughs.] make the U.S. team. I have my work
not able to Sometimes I’ll take some gun pictures cut out for me — I’m old! [Laughs.]
comPete as for fun, too. I’ve reached the point where Competing against these young girls,
much as i I always have my camera around. The it’s gonna be tough, so I am always
would like
environment here in Montana is amaz- looking for ways to keep my techniques
to, simPly
because i ing — storms, wildlife — there’s just so as effcient as I can.
don’t have much to capture though pictures.
the time. Speaking of different types of shoot-
that said, Do you think your world travels have ers, what was it like the frst time your
i wouldn’t also impacted your career as a shooter? daughter went shooting?
trade being
JG: Defnitely. We’ve been at the top JG: It was the greatest! Of course, guns
a mom for
anything. of the game in the U.S. for a long are not taboo within our family, but
it has made time, but that is changing. Europe has given her age I didn’t want to push her
me smarter, some incredible shooters and Russia, into it. She’s a little princess, so we had
more especially, has some outstanding shoot- to get a pink gun, of course. [Laughs.]
efficient, a ers now that they have a good IPSC We had a little pink, single-shot .22
better
multi- program. As Americans, we always and it was a bit long for her. So, we
tasker, think we are the best at everything, but ended up taking her out with a Smith
and more when you watch how they move and see & Wesson M&P .22 because we could
honest with their style of shooting — it’s different in shorten the stock all the way up. She
myself in a lot of ways. So, I have been watching loved it! She’s defnitely a girly girl, but
the sense of quite a few videos. Next year is an IPSC she still wants to go hunting with us.
what i can
and can’t do
and what i Only after months of training and discussing
should and with her oldest daughter about safety and
shouldn’t frearm responsibilities did Julie Golob relent to
do. her daughter’s persistent requests to shoot. Here
the then-5-year-old gets a little help with an
M&P15-22 (chambered in .22 LR) from her dad.
Images courtesy of Julie Golob.
 Renaissance Woman

caReeR
accomplishments
First and only six-division USPSA National
Champion in history
The only Triple Crown USPSA Ladies National
Champion
More than 50 national, international, and world
titles in seven disciplines
More than 120 championship titles in state,
regional, and international competitions
13-time USPSA Ladies National Champion
Seven-time Ladies World Speed Shooting
Champion
Four-time IDPA Ladies National Champion
Four-time NRA Bianchi Cup Military Champion
Four-time NRA Bianchi Cup Ladies Shoot Off
Champion
Three-time S&W IDPA Winter Nationals Ladies
Champion
Three-time NRA Bianchi Cup Ladies Open Foreshadowing her dominance in national and
Champion international competitions, Julie Golob earned
Three-time USPSA Nationals Ladies Shoot Off numerous commendations while in the U.S. Army
Champion Marksmanship Unit. Image courtesy of Julie Golob.
Two-time International Revolver Championships
Ladies Open Champion like to make sure every gun shop, local
Two-time American Handgunner Ladies Stock grocer, or business owner had bro-
Champion chures and paperwork on local events
National Record Holder in NRA Action Pistol and
USPSA
so people would want to go out and
NRA Action Pistol High Master & Distinguished sign up. I think today’s climate makes
1999 U.S. Army Female Athlete of the Year people reluctant to share too much
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Athlete of the Year information regarding anything gun-
related, and that’s unfortunate because
What do you think is the biggest ob- how are we gonna grow? It’s especially
stacle in promoting shooting competi- tough for cities and the younger genera-
tion awareness? tions. If there’s no place for people to
JG: I think that if I were queen for a go and try something safely, then they
day, I would give shooting sports a good are going to have that stigma, that fear,
amount of money so that they could that ignorance of saying, “It’s OK to be
properly put out promotional materi- ignorant about this.” People should be
als to help people fnd out information able to share what they are passionate

Julie golob
about competitions. Right now, the about without feeling pressure or fear of
Internet is our best friend, but I would being “villainized.”

select peRsonal FiReaRms:

Julie golob’s
age:
36 handguns: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield

eveRyday
9mm with Warren Tactical night sights,
Family: S&W M&P Pro Series 1911, and numerous
Married with two

caRRy
S&W .45 1911s.
daughters
rifes: Smith & Wesson M&P15 and
occupation: M&P10, Accuracy International in .308 with
Smith & Wesson a Nightforce Optics F1, and APA custom .300
Shooting Team Win Mag with a Nightforce Optics ATACR.
Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm with
Captain
ASYM Premium ammo and Warren Tactical shotguns: Benelli Super Sport, Benelli
night sights Performance Shop M2 with a Taran Tactical
Smith & Wesson Tactical Pen with Stylus Tip Innovation bolt release, safety, and charg-
ing handle.
Dale Fricke Zacchaeus Concealment Holster
uRl:
SureFire E1L Outdoorsman fashlight www.juliegolob.com
Keys
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 Shoot Like the
Great
one
Rob Leatham ReveaLs the tips and tRicks
that heLped him evoLve into an icon
By Patrick Vuong
PhotoGraPhy By Henry Z. De kuyPer
12
is su e

106
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Even if you are only vaguely familiar
with the world of competitive shooting,
the name Rob Leatham should ring a
bell. He’s the kind of living legend who
needs no introduction. But we’ll give
him one anyway for those of you living
under a rock for the past few decades.
Leatham is the captain of the
Springfeld Armory shooting team, a
24-time USPSA national champion,
and the only shooter in the history
of action shooting sports to become
a Triple Crown Winner (frst at the
Bianchi Cup, Steel Challenge, and the
IPSC/USPSA Nationals in the same
year). They don’t call him “The Great
One” (or TGO) for nothing.
But in the 1980s he was considered
an upstart. By his own admission,
Leatham was a young kid who shot fast
with little regard for technique, winning
through raw talent and sheer luck. Then
he befriended fellow shooter Brian Enos
and everything changed. (It was Enos
who would eventually dub Leatham as
“TGO.”) The rivals became fast friends,
training together and more importantly,
analyzing and experimenting with dif-
ferent shooting techniques. They tried
innovative grips, arm positions, and
stances — constantly evolving. And
they started winning — a lot.
The establishment didn’t like it, but
Leatham proved them wrong. Not out
of spite. Truth was he admired most of
the old guard, men he had looked up to
as heroes. No, Leatham kept winning
out of a personal need to constantly
improve. Now he is considered a top
veteran who has young bucks nipping at
his heels. He welcomes the challenge
and still strives to improve.
In Issue 10, Leatham sat down with
RECOIL to reminisce about his ground-
breaking career in competitive shooting
and how he approaches teaching others
in frearm classes. In these pages, he
continues his candidness by sharing
the tips and tricks he’s learned over
the decades that shooters — both new
and experienced — can use to advance
their gun game.
Break Your TradiTional
STance
Leatham riled traditionalists back
in the ’80s when he abandoned the
established practices of the day to
experiment with new shooting tech-
niques. Today, many of the sacrilegious
methods he and Enos originated are
now mainstream.
Here he explains the top fve ways of
breaking from tradition to improve your
shooting.
don’t Bend Your arms: Leatham says
that if you prefer to bend your arms
when you shoot, and you shoot well
doing it, more power to you. But he
discovered that extending both arms
out (without locking the elbows) pro-
vided a sturdier base for shooting. “We
gained a tremendous amount of rigidity
in the upper triangle, both laterally and
is su e
Leatham was among vertically, and that made it much easier
the frst to shoot with to control the gun in recoil,” Leatham
both arms extended
12
says. “As soon as we quit trying to bend
forward and shoulders
our support arms, the gun didn’t move
and feet square to the
target. laterally and recoil as much.”
107
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
 Take an aggressive Stance: “If you’re
in a balanced posture with an equal
amount of weight on both feet,” he
says, “you’re more susceptible to recoil
as you shoot because it pushes you
back and forth, and it also takes away
from gun recovery.” Don’t get caught
fat-footed. With your knees bent, your
weight should be on the balls of your
feet. Your shoulders should be slightly
forward of your hips.
learn to Jerk the Trigger: In speed
shooting, you have to learn to jerk the trig-
ger, Leatham says. “This is blasphemous
to purists as we are always taught to pull
the trigger smoothly, but if you want to get
some real speed going, you have to learn
how to jerk the trigger and still be accu-
rate,” he says, adding that you only have
to aim enough to make sure the gun’s
Leatham’s paws
12

suffciently aligned with the target. completely encircle his Get (More) Hands on: Leatham rec- don’t Focus on Front-Sight Focus:
is su e

“We were willing to shoot at an
increased speed, which allowed us
to draw a few more points than the
108 traditionalists,” Leatham says. “The
old guys would say, ‘Yeah, but you guys
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
USPSA Limited gun, ognizes that different people grip their
getting as high on the guns in different ways. The exact fnger
frame as possible.
and palm placement doesn’t matter as
much as getting as much of your hands
on the frearm as possible. “It doesn’t
“Anytime somebody missed, they
would say, ‘Oh, I lost the front sight.’ I
don’t even see the sights in that man-
ner,” Leatham says. Instead, he ap-
proaches the concept of sight picture

are shooting all over the targets.’ Our
response was, ‘This isn’t a gunfght; it’s
a scoring match.’ The feather in our cap
is that, for a period of time, we won all
the accuracy matches and the speed
matches, not just one or the other. That
was the shocker that made folks pay
attention.”
really matter where your hands on the
gun are, but the more of your hands
you can get onto the gun the better
control you will have,” he says. “You
need a really frm grip and when you
achieve that, of course the gun doesn’t
Invest in a shot
timer and track your kick as much. And when it doesn’t kick
progress. as much, you can shoot faster.”
in its totality — seeing the target, the
front sight, and the rear sight simul-
taneously. “I look at the targets, I see
the sights on the targets, and I clarify
the amount I need to move in order
to fre the shot. I’m not looking at the
sights — I’m looking at the target and
the sights.”
 Shoot Like the Great one

“I’m not
lookIng at
the sIghts —
I’m lookIng at
the target
and the
sIghts.”

is su e
12
109

Rec o ilw e b .c o m
 “I seldom shoot well
when I’m comfortable.
comfortable Is lyIng
down on a couch
watchIng tV. I’m talkIng
about holdIng a gun so
fIrmly your hands ache,
and usIng an aggressIVe
posture at a practIce
sessIon untIl your
calVes are sore.”
12
is su e
110
Mind-BodY uniTY
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Aside from adjusting biomechan-
ics and becoming profcient at the
fundamentals of marksmanship, one of
the most important concepts a shooter
must understand is that a technique
is a tool — not a goal in and of itself.
“Shooting well is not about perfecting
the look of a technique,” he says. “I
teach new shooters all the time that
shooting is hard to dissect, but it’s not
hard to do fundamentally.”
Using a technique that isn’t right for
you will only degrade your accuracy —
especially as you speed up. Evolving
one’s shooting methods can be hard for
some people, Leatham says, because
they can get focused on the theoretical
attachment to a particular technique,
as opposed to fnding a technique that
works best for them.
“It’s just a philosophical difference
that requires an abrupt change of
thought, where you have to realize that
Leatham runs regular something you have always believed
classes in Arizona. to be true might just be something
Prepare for his legend-
ary ball busting if you you misunderstood the whole time,”
attend. Leatham says. “The people who battle
against change in technique never
improve. Those willing to adapt will
increase their skill dramatically.”
Also, Leatham suggests forgetting
any tips that advocate getting into a
comfort zone or a certain state of mind.
“The really fast shooters aren’t encum-
bered with that kind of thought process,”
Leatham says. “Things happen subcon-
sciously for them. They don’t think about
drawing, reloading, their stance, pulling
their trigger. They don’t even think about
aiming. They aren’t engrossed with the
whole mechanical process.
“I seldom shoot well when I’m com-
fortable. Comfortable is lying down on
a couch watching TV. [Laughs.] I’m talk-
ing about holding a gun so frmly your
hands ache, and using an aggressive
posture at a practice session until your
calves are sore.”
With these types of insights and his
awards-flled experience, Leatham has
become a world-class frearms instruc-
tor. His goal is to always get his students
to understand what they’re actually do-
ing versus what they are trying to do.
“If you work with me in a class, you’d
be stunned at how many questions I
ask you, because I want you to get to a
point where you are able to analyze what
you’re doing, what’s actually happening
and what the differences are between
the two,” Leatham says. “A shooter is
not in a position to see very well what
he or she is doing. They can see a target
and their sights, but as a shooter, you’re
not in a very good position to observe
any sort of mistakes being made outside
of seeing misses on a target.”
If you ever get the pleasure of taking
one of his classes, be prepared for a
very interactive class — and an oppor-
tunity to evolve your own skill set.
 A New
LegeNd
AlexAnder Arms Ulfberht semiAUto .338 lApUA:
more fUn thAn CAlling in An Airstrike
TexT and PhoTograPhy By Steven Kuo
IllusTraTIon By Ced noCon
with any weapon system, there is a
balance between competing charac-
teristics. with precision weapons in
particular, pure accuracy is often the
top priority — but look across military,
law enforcement, and civilian applica-
tions and you will see an ever-increas-
ing emphasis on the ability to engage
multiple targets and to deliver quicker
follow-up shots. so, while bolt-action
rifles continue to provide incredible ac-
curacy, gas guns are being increasingly
adopted for their semiauto, magazine-
fed capability — and they are delivering
impressive accuracy, as well.
To date, the wonder cartridge .338
lapua has primarily remained the prov-
ince of ultra-accurate bolt-action rifles.
in fact, the longest confirmed sniper
kill to date, at a range of over 1.5 miles,
was accomplished by a british sniper
with the Finnish round launched from
an Accuracy international bolt gun. The
.338 lapua cartridge is quite long and
generates tremendous pressure, some
68,000 psi. so, to create a safe, reli-
able, accurate and ergonomic semiauto
rifle in .338 lapua is no easy task.
enter bill Alexander of Alexander
Arms. A mechanical engineer by trade
and scotsman by heritage, bill spent
years contracted to the british Army.
He worked on everything from small
arms and vehicles to armor and satel-
lites. if you ever have an opportunity
to sit down with the man, you will
discover his innate love of all things
mechanical.
is su e
12
113
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
 A New LegeNd

His perspective on building weapon
systems refects his engineering
upbringing. He thinks critically and
impartially about how his designs will
achieve the stated objectives by apply-
ing appropriate materials, treatments,
and manufacturing processes. In the
case of the Ulfberht .338 Lapua rife,
12
1.1 inches under the hand-guard and
0.885 inches, with futing, in front of
the gas block.
The action is quite interesting. Be-
cause the .338 Lapua generates such
high pressures, the Ulfberht surrounds
the chambered round with a lot of good
ol’ fashioned steel. Plus, the .338
and fed rounds down, with the help
of gravity, to a bolt that had pivoting
side lugs that locked into the receiver.
These lugs also ensured that the fring
pin could not pass by until they were
securely locked. This same mechanism
is found in the 12.7mm DShK heavy
machinegun still being felded around

Bill’s objective was to build a semiauto Lapua cartridge is rather long at around the world today.
Bill Alexander,
is su e

platform to strike a practical balance
between delivering good accuracy and
a safe and reliable operating system,
114 with consistency across thousands of
rounds and different types of loads. He
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
the eponymous 4 inches. Alexander chose a design that
mad scientist and avoided a rotating bolt, so it would be
Scotsman behind as short as possible, while also provid-
Alexander Arms.
ing great strength with the extreme
pressures and dwell time involved.
The Ulfberht fips the Degtyaryov
action upside down, feeding rounds
from its double stack proprietary
10-round polymer magazine. The side
lugs lock securely into the forged AISI

also strived to deliver it in a package
that hits the sweet spot of weight and
length. Named after a line of rare and
superior (for its time) Viking swords, the
Ulfberht is intended as a working gun,
so Bill was willing to sacrifce some
amount of ultimate accuracy for porta-
bility, consistency, and reliability.
Hence the Degtyaryov design from the
Russian DP28 machinegun.
Fielded in 1928, the DP28 featured
a circular magazine with cartridges
arranged radially, pointing toward the
center. The record player-like maga-
zine was affxed on top of the receiver
9310 steel receiver, and provide an
incredibly strong action without the ad-
ditional length and complexity required
by a rotating lug design. There’s a lot
of steel surrounding the chambered
round, which both safely contains the
tremendous pressures and contributes

The Ulfberht’s polymer

Turning a russian Machine- feed ramp helps to
gun upside down reduce the chance of
The heart of a rife is its barrel and bullet jackets getting
scarred while being
action, and Alexander borrowed from
chambered.
the past with both. Starting with a
4150 chromoly vanadium blank, he
rifes it in an Enfeld pattern — perhaps
not a trendy choice, but the squared-
off rifing with its equally spaced Alexander Arms based
lands and grooves is effective for this its design on the
application. The barrel is melonited and Russian Degtyaryov
DP28 machinegun.
press ft with a hydraulic press, then
Lugs on the side of
cross-pinned for good measure. It’s the bolt lock securely
27.5 inches in length and profled to into the steel receiver.
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 The gas system has an adjustable
gas block with fve settings and a
long-stroke piston.

Our test gun had an

AAC muzzle brake on
it; production guns
will be ftted with
a three-prong fash The Ulfberht’s hand-guard
hider. is slick with threaded
holes to attach accessory
attachments.

Take your pick — the same

money gets you an iPad or
LRA’s tactical bipod. Yes,
it’s pricey, but it’s a perfect
match for this rife, providing
great stability and smooth
12

adjustments.
IS SU E

116
to reliability and consistency (and little over an hour outside of Roswell, to pull out what was left of his hair, but
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

hence repeatable accuracy).
Another interesting feature is the
polymer feed ramp, designed to reduce
the possibility of bullet jackets getting
scratched or marred during the trip into
the chamber, thus avoiding any atten-
dant degradation of accuracy.
The gas system has an adjustable
gas block with fve settings (from 0 to
4, including off, a suppressed set-
ting, a regular setting, a cold weather/
light loads setting, and wide open for
subsonic ammo and severe conditions).
The Ulfberht is designed to spread the
recoil impulse over a longer period of
time, and there’s 19 inches of long-
stroke piston between the gas block
and the bolt carrier group.  the grounds, strolling out of our cabin
Young guns
We had the pleasure of wringing out
the Ulfberht at Felix Canyon Ranch in
New Mexico (www.felixcanyon.com). A
the working ranch spans 152,000
acres (yes, that’s not a typo!). As such,
it provides a tremendous variety of
shooting opportunities to accommodate
most any weapon system you could
possibly imagine, short of an intercon-
tinental ballistic missile. The ranch
was once owned by the Dolan family,
immortalized in the movie Young Guns
with Billy the Kid and his band of
Regulators. In fact, James Dolan’s his-
toric house still stands in all its glory
on the ranch. Today, proprietors Jens
and Susan Klingshirn host hunters,
training classes, and competitors alike
with great hospitality and warmth.
We took immediate advantage of
and past some stables to zero the
rife. Long accustomed to the glorious
sound of gunfre, the horses completely
ignored us. Some initial frustration with
stringing shots nearly caused Alexander
it turned out to be a front scope ring
made of 6000 series aluminum that
had given up the ghost. So we removed
the trusty Steiner 5-25x56 Military
scope and attached a U.S. Optics ER25
5-25x scope with a Horus H37 reticle
in a JP mount that we had handy. Jens
then shot the best group of the day with
250-grain Scenar — a four-shot group
that measured just over 0.5 inches
center to center at 100 yards. Note
that the prototype rife has over 2,000
rounds on it (which likely contributed
to the demise of the scope ring), so
we were pleased with its performance,
to say the least. Alexander was, too,
but he is careful to say that he would
characterize the Ulfberht as a 1-MOA
working gun.
We tested a 300-grain load that had
one failure to feed; Bill attributed this
to the gas system setting, which we
had left on position 3 when it needed
 A New LegeNd

The Ulfberht feld strips easily and without any tools.

After verifying the weapon is clear, pull out the
take-down pin at the rear of the receiver, and remove
the buttstock and dual opposing recoil springs. Then
retract and remove the charging handle. Slide the bolt
assembly and piston out of the rear of the receiver.
Finally, remove the bolt lugs and the bolt.

The Magpul PRS buttstock folds to the

right and is rock solid when extended.

The Ulfberht takes

standard AR-15 fre
control components and
pistol grips, providing
The mag release is an ambidextrous paddle. A set the shooter with endless
screw allows you to confgure mags to drop free or not. choices to suit one’s

IS SU E
The aggressive slant of the magwell also allows you to preferences.
insert mags without breaking position while in prone.

12
117
to be adjusted to position 2. The rest of system, low bore axis, and sturdy LRA ous success and absolute delusions

the magazine fed just fne, and we did
not have any other functioning issues
throughout the rest of our sessions.
reach ouT and Touch soMe-
one
Happy with our zero, we decided to
really take advantage of the expansive
Felix Canyon Ranch and hopped in
some Tomcar off-road vehicles (see RE-
COIL Issue 7). We scaled the hills like
horny mountain goats to set up steel
targets at 1,000 and 1,400 yards.
The target at 1,000 yards was
basically kids’ play. Wind was blowing
around 10 to 15 mph, and after one
missed shot with a hold computed
from the ballistic calculator, we made
a slight adjustment and started ringing
the steel like Neil Peart on a drum solo.
The gun weighs more than 24 pounds
with the optic and bipod. The weight,
combined with the long-stroke gas
bipod, resulted in a recoil impulse that
was amazingly soft. The rife pushed
back and down a bit, and was very
easy to get back on target very quickly
and without losing sight of the target
through the glass.
Since 1,000 yards was too easy, we
moved on to the 1,400-yard target.
We decided to pick up the pace, enjoy
the advantages of a semiauto, and go
for speed. After two near misses, we
got our hold dialed in. Then we fred
three shots in under 4.5 seconds and
were rewarded with three hits. Getting
more accustomed to the system, we
tried again and launched three rounds
in 4.42 seconds — and got three more
hits! Now that was an absolute blast!
In case you were wondering, our hits
were all in the top left quadrant of the
target…not too shabby indeed.
We decided to push out farther to
test our limits. Buoyed by our previ-
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
of grandeur, we scurried up another
hilltop in the Tomcar and set out an
orange humanoid target that was a
mere 12 inches wide and 1,800 yards
from our shooting platform — over a
mile away. The sun was falling in the
The bolt handle can sky, and wind picked up to 20 to 25
be confgured any
mph at about half to three-quarters
way you like, so long
as you like it to be value. Not ideal conditions for such an
reciprocating and on aggressive attempt. But we got back
the right side.
behind the gun, loaded up another mag
of 250-grain FMJ, and gave it a go.
With a hold based on our ATRAG calcu-
lations, our frst two rounds splashed
just low and left of the target. After
adjusting the hold, the third shot felt
good, but the wind continued to howl,
and the spotter could no longer see
With 152,000 acres our impacts downrange. After expend-
at your disposal, the ing another C-note worth of ammo, we
Felix Canyon Ranch in stopped, headed back downrange and
New Mexico offers an
unparalleled shooting discovered shattered rocks all around
venue. the target — and a single hit squarely
 12
IS SU E
118
What’s
REc o ILW E B .c o M
in a
name?
Alexander Arms named its new .338
Lapua rife after a line of extremely rare
and special Viking swords that were
way ahead of their time. Hailing from
800 to 1000 A.D., Ulfberht swords
were forged from unusually high-quality
steel that far surpassed that of other
swords on the battlefeld at that time,
making them much stronger and more
fexible. In fact, the steel they used was
not to be matched until the 1800s.
Note that the original inscriptions are
believed to be spelled +VLFBERH+T
with crosses in those specifc spots.
in its crotch. As the sun began to set,
we jumped back in the Tomcar with big
smiles on our faces.
Final thoughts
The ergonomics of the gun are quite
comfortable. The Ulfberht takes a
standard AR fre control group, safety
selector, and pistol grip, so you can
easily customize these components to
suit your taste. The rife comes with
Alexander Arms’ excellent single-stage
trigger (which we tested in Issue 9);
it broke cleanly at approximately 4
pounds. The buttstock is a Magpul PRS
mated to a folding mechanism, bringing
both the great adjustability and also the
heavy weight that the PRS is known for.
When the stock is folded, the Ulfberht
is approximately the same length as a
typical .308 gas gun. The magazine
release is an ambidextrous paddle at
the base of the trigger guard, and a
set screw in the front of the magwell
thoughtfully allows you to confgure
magazines to either drop free or not.
You can also easily
change magazines while
in prone without breaking
position. The reciprocating
charging handle sits on the
right side; some folks would
incite a brawl about this, so we’ll
leave it at that.
Unfortunately, the Ulfberht does
not have a bolt hold-open feature when
it runs dry — this is something we
always like to see in working guns of the
semiauto variety. We don’t like to hear a
click when we expect a bang. That said,
remember its intended application and
that your other options in this caliber are
largely bolt guns. If you are not paying
attention you can also run them dry and
drop the striker on an empty chamber.
More importantly, Alexander explained
that incorporating a bolt hold-open
would extract a heavy penalty in weight,
length, complexity, and additional
components that need to withstand the
beating delivered by the .338 Lapua
cartridge. He calculated that it could
 A New LegeNd
130mm
Left: We deliriously placed
this small 12-inch-wide
target at 1,800 yards 120mm
and, with 20 to 25-mph
crosswinds, managed
to hit it once squarely in 110mm
the crotch. Our shooting
position is a speck in the
distance. 100mm

90mm

80mm
add 1 to 2 pounds of weight to the hefty Right: Our idea of an all-star lineup: .17 HMR,
steel receiver. Is that a tradeoff you’d be .223, .300 BLK, 6.5 Grendel, .308, .338 Lapua,
70mm
.416 Barrett, .50 BMG.
willing to make?
At 19.8 pounds for the rife alone, the 60mm
Ulfberht is indeed a heavy beast. Alex-
ander is looking at some weight saving 50mm
options, including a lighter and/or shorter
barrel, titanium components, lightening
40mm
cuts, and less porky buttstocks.
The Ulfberht refects thoughtful,
30mm
solid engineering with some unique and
inspired design choices — resulting in
20mm
a decidedly badass repeating rife that
will drill targets as far as the eye can
10mm
see, all day long. It more than lives
up to its name. The Vikings would be
proud. 0mm
 12
is su e

An
AK
120
Rec o ilw e b .c o m

Shotgun
thAt These smooThbores have a
CulT Following among Those

WorKS?
who Know enough voodoo To geT
Them To worK.
moloT vepr-12
needs less blaCK
magiC Than mosT.
by Russell Phagan
PhotograPhy by henRy Z. De KuyPeR
I purchased my frst Saiga-12 in 2006
as a solution for dealing with high round
count shotgun stages in three-gun
matches. When Saiga-12s work, they
are awesome, and using one contrib-
uted to some match wins and top-three
fnishes. The higher the round count
of a stage, the more advantage gained
when using magazine-fed shotguns.
The key words there are “when
Saiga-12s work” — because when
they don’t (which is often), you end up
wishing you had a pump gun. I have
personally owned eight Saiga-12s,
and of those eight, only three worked
correctly.
Champagne TasTes, Vodka
BudgeT
Earlier imported Saiga-12s generally
displayed better construction and
reliability than later models, after
demand for them increased. I can’t
speak to the quality of currently
imported guns, but the previous ones
often had gas-system issues. The to the bore, could be centered over the
number of gas ports drilled in the bore, and did not need to be removed to
barrel seemed to vary from day to disassemble the gun for cleaning.
day and how close to vodka o’clock it In addition, inserting magazines on
was. You could never be sure if they’d a closed bolt is signifcantly harder
be aligned with the gas block. These with the Saiga-12 than traditional AK
issues could be solved by a gunsmith or designs. The shooter must push up and
a well-motivated individual with a BFH, forward to keep the front magazine tab
but this imposed an additional cost in place, as the top shell compresses
on top of the initial purchase. While against the bolt and rocks into the
more tolerable when Saiga-12s were locked position. I grew accustomed to
priced under $500, this is completely doing this, but many shooters remained
unjustifable at current market prices. dependent on holding the bolt back
Saiga-12s also did not come with with their hand or a manual bolt hold-
usable iron sights. Some were equipped open device to reload consistently.
with bead sights that were less than
ideal, being mounted to the gas piston
tube rather than directly to the barrel
(an impossibility with the AK-style
design). Others were equipped with
crude pistol-style sights that could
occasionally be zeroed for shooting
slugs, but you could never rely on them.
Adding aftermarket irons, or better yet
a red-dot, was the best alternative,
either using the side rail or attaching an
aftermarket mount to the gas tube. The
Aimpoint mount by RS Regulate was
the best mount I found — it sat close

The longer I used the Saiga-12, the
more issues I experienced related to
long-term durability. The gun that ran
the best for me had close to 9,000
rounds on it when I retired it. The
factory fre control had worn out once,
and the edges of the bolt had peened
over several times, requiring some fling
to clean up. In the end, the rivets at the
12
rear trunnion were angled backwards
is su e
and the dustcover had less than
50-percent engagement at the front of
the receiver.
122 I used my Saiga-12 for the fnal time
at the 2013 Ironman 3-Gun Match,
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
where I started experiencing intermittent
malfunctions during the long courses
of fre. I was also once again losing the
reloading race against Saiga-12s that
had been upgraded with magwells and
drop-free magazines, or the AKDAL
MK1919-style shotguns. It was time to
upgrade to something better.
From russia WiTh LoVe
The Vepr-12 has been available in
Europe for some time, but has only
been widely available in the United
States since 2012. The shotgun arrives
with a straight-insertion magazine
well and last-round, bolt-hold open
(LRBHO) — both features make
reloading signifcantly easier and
faster than previous options. When the
action locks back on the last round,
the shooter reloads and then manually
releases the bolt by pulling back on
the charging handle slightly. Unlike an
AR-15, there is no bolt release lever.
The two factory fve-round magazines
that shipped with the gun functioned
Molots feld strip more fawlessly and ejected positively when
like a Krink than a
the ambidextrous magazine release was
Saiga, with removable
gas tube and hinged hit with the trigger fnger. Competitive
top cover. Saiga-12 shooters often seek out a
gunsmith to add both of these features
to their Saigas, usually for more than
the cost of the gun itself. The fact
they’re built into the Vepr-12 out of the
box adds signifcant value.
Unlike a typical AK, the top cover is
hinged and includes a polymer optics-
mounting rail. Just make sure you don’t
position your optic over the ejection
port area, to ensure positive ejection of
spent shells. An RPK-style rear sight
is attached in front of the top cover
with an AK-style front post in the gas
block. These sights are both usable and
relatively easy to zero. The rear sight
itself is adjustable for windage, with
elevation adjustments available in the
front sight with a sight tool or needle-
nose pliers. The ft of the top cover
is tight, and while sighting in slugs,
the zero did not noticeably shift when
opening and closing it several times.
The Aimpoint T-1 Micro co-witnessed
Ammo manufacturers
have been running fat
out to keep up with
demand. Is QC slip-
ping as a result?
with the irons, so it would be easy to
verify any shift against the irons with a
low-mounted optic.
The Vepr-12 features an extended
safety lever that is easier to operate
with the right trigger fnger — or for a
lefty, with the left thumb. Some models
also have a safety that is accessible on
the left side for the shooter to actuate
with their right thumb.
The new Ruskie shotgun has two
features that give me confdence it will
have better long-term durability than a
Saiga-12. Firstly, the bolt is machined
rather than cast. Secondly, the long-
stroke gas system is self-regulating unlike
that of the Saiga, which has two extreme
gas settings: “full-power slug” and
“failure to eject.” Switching gas settings
in the middle of a three-gun stage to
accommodate birdshot versus slugs or
buckshot is not practical, so the shooter
is often faced with having to run high-
powered ammo on a low-power setting.
In comparison, the Vepr-12 design is
less likely to experience excessive wear
over time, due to its better materials
and construction, coupled with the self-
regulating gas system.
Unfortunately we could not
immediately put 10,000 rounds
through the gun to test its longevity,
but did fre approximately 400 rounds
of birdshot, 50 slugs, and 50 buckshot
shells through it prior to press time. I
experienced only one malfunction with
Remington Gun Club birdshot — the
case head ripped completely off the
plastic hull. I would consider this an
ammunition issue rather than the fault
of the gun.
Molot Vepr-12
 Molot Vepr-12

MAgAzine-Fed The Vepr-12 did get just as dirty as the tang. I chose to install the latter for

ShotgunS
Semiautomatic, magazine-fed shotguns historically have
faced greater regulation in the United States than semiau-
tomatic, magazine-fed pistols and rifes. The Gun Control
Act (GCA) of 1968 defned frearms with a bore over a
½ inch as destructive devices, except for shotguns with
sporting purposes. This made any shotgun ruled to be
“non-sporting” subject to the National Firearms Act. The
GCA also placed importation restrictions on all frearms
that were not suitable for so-called sporting purposes.
In 1994, the now-expired federal Assault Weapons Ban
was enacted and defned an “assault shotgun” as a semi-
automatic shotgun with two or more of the following:
Folding or telescoping stock
Pistol grip
Fixed capacity of more than fve rounds
Detachable magazine
12
previous Saigas, but at least it’s easier
to clean. The gas piston tube can be
completely removed from the gun like
a standard AK, making it easier to
access the gas block. Lead, plastic, and
carbon can and do build up in this area,
and shooters should expect to clean
both it and the gas piston every couple
hundred rounds to ensure reliability.
CuTTing Wood
The Vepr’s wooden buttstock quite
frankly sucks. Mine came out of the
box with an attachment screw stripped
out and proved pretty uncomfortable
to shoot, so I immediately added a
rubber buttpad. This worked adequately
for the frst 150 rounds, until I ftted
an AGP Arms side folder with rubber
the cleanest appearance, which was
easily done in about 10 minutes with a
hacksaw and a fle. The adapter block
itself did require some fle work due to
the thicker RPK receiver.
Section 922(r) is a vaguely worded
federal regulation restricting imported
semiautomatic rifes and shotguns
that do not have a so-called “sporting
purpose” from having too many
imported parts. There is an arbitrary
list of 20 particular gun parts, of which
no more than 10 may be imported. So
when I modifed the Vepr, to ensure
922(r) compliance, I also installed a
U.S.-made pistol grip, hand-guard,
gas-piston puck, and fre control from
Carolina Shooters Supply. These are all
relatively easy swaps for an end user

In 1995, the sporting purposes provision of the 1968 recoil pad. Of all the side folders I’ve or can be easily installed by your local
IS SU E

GCA was used to declare the USAS-12 shotgun (a semiau-
to, magazine-fed design) to be “non-sporting” and forced
owners to register them, or else surrender them. The gov-
124 ernment’s defnition of “sporting purposes” apparently did
not include action shooting sports like three-gun or IPSC,
REC O ILW E B .C O M
used, I like the AGP for its solid lockup
and wide upper tube that provides
a solid cheek weld. AGP offers two
adapter blocks for their stock, one that
requires no modifcations to the gun
gunsmith.
As of this writing, SGM Tactical
is the only U.S. company making
larger-capacity magazines for the
Vepr. Unfortunately, none of the three

whereas hunting and trap or skeet shooting were classifed and another that requires cutting off 12-round magazines they supplied
as suitable sporting endeavors. The USAS-12’s weight,
large size, and high capacity (amongst other features)
factored into the government’s reasoning for declaring it
not suitable for those sporting purposes.
All these legal factors created a situation in which any
mag-fed shotgun the average person could purchase was
not very desirable, as magazine capacity and feature
restrictions made them less useful overall in comparison to
tube-fed shotguns with higher capacities. Saiga-12 shotguns
were initially manufactured in Russia in 1997, and were im-
ported with a traditional sporter stock during the Clinton-era
Assault Weapons Ban. They were not very popular due to
their fve-round magazines, and the sporter stocks they were
forced to wear were complete abominations.
The Assault Weapons Ban was allowed to expire in
2004, and interest in the Saiga-12 gradually increased
as 10-plus-round magazines became available. End users
could also convert their Saiga-12s to use traditional AK
furniture by substituting U.S.-made parts to maintain
922(r) compliance. A niche market emerged of conversion
parts and gunsmiths modifying Saiga-12s for competition
and tactical/self-defense purposes.

worked out of the box. The magazine
followers and shell bases would bind
up after the second round down
past the feed lips — shells would
hang up, causing failures to feed. By
disassembling the magazines and
manually sliding the follower through the
This Molot did not tubes, I identifed and relieved a tight
need the usual break-
spot with sandpaper. The SGM Tactical
in period and cycled
bulk pack ammo right magazines also do not reliably drop free
out of the box. from the magwell — pulling them out
with my support hand was mandatory.
Further ftting should allow them to
drop free, but I have not yet attempted
it. As part of this evaluation, I also
Molot Vepr-12
tested a modifed AGP Arms Saiga-12
magazine, with the front hook and
upper support ribs removed and the
back modifed to clear the Vepr’s
LRBHO. While it did function, it
would not be my frst choice for use
with the Vepr-12 because the LRBHO
doesn’t work with that follower design.
Modifying Saiga-12 magazines may be
a viable option, however, for residents of
states where they can no longer acquire
newly manufactured Vepr-12 magazines.
After putting up with the
idiosyncrasies of Saigas for over
a decade, shooters looking for a
detachable box-fed shotgun now have
another option. The Vepr seems to have
addressed many of its predecessor’s
shortcomings and appears to work with
a variety of ammunition right out of the
box. I’m looking forward to running the
Vepr in action competitions in 2014.
While there are a few issues end users
will want to address before using it
seriously, it is a much more refned
solution to the quest for a high-capacity
12-gauge.
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 12
is su e
128
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
in Recoil issue 7, we got to shoot
PoF’s 7.62mm full-auto sbR and came
away with a favorable impression of its
quality and accuracy. when the founder
and president of the company called us
up and offered a sneak preview of the
fourth-generation rife that was due to
launch at this year’s sHoT show, we
said, “what the hell? it’s about time we
got to break something new.”
Popping the catches on the obliga-
tory black plastic shipping case, the
frst thing that you notice on the new
5.56mm rife is the hand-guard. it’s
now an acceptable length for those
of us who like to grind their teeth and
make like a tank while we shoot. it’s
easy enough to get fxated on one obvi-
ous feature, though. Doing so would be
a mistake, as this carbine has enough
well-thought-out elements to make
your average ocD-afficted individual
take a couple of days off work to sit in
a darkened room and make “ooh” and
“ahh” noises while rocking gently back
and forth.
Under the hood
starting at the business end, PoF’s
three-baffe brake is effective. And loud.
Rather than time it by means of the
usual crush washer, the factory employs
a slim lock nut — when you think about
it in the context of an AR, this makes
perfect sense. consider that the muzzle
device is probably the last component to
be installed whilst the upper is clamped
in a vise. when using a crush washer,
torque is transmitted via the (steel) bar-
rel to the (aluminum) receiver by means

of the 1⁄8 -inch diameter (steel) pin in
the barrel extension. Guess which one’s
going to deform if you get enthusiastic
with the wrench? since you rely on the
interface between barrel extension and
receiver for accuracy when using any
kind of optic, it pays to ensure there’s
no slop in that connection.
PoFs have a reputation for shooting
small groups, and one of the reasons
for that can be found in their gas
system. it’s a short-stroke system,
reminiscent of the FAl, but it omits
By IaIn HarrIson
PhotograPhy By Jason swarr
the belgian design’s one-piece, spring-
loaded piston. instead, it employs a
lightweight operating rod and a sepa-
rate, tiny piston — the net result of
which is to minimize any external force
on the barrel at the moment of fring.
At the risk of this turning into one of
those articles in which the writer has
never met a gun he doesn’t like, let’s
just say that it’s a contributing factor
to PoF rifes being some of the most
accurate semiautos we’ve ever shot.
The gas plug will be instantly
recognizable to anyone who’s picked up
an FAl and offers settings for normal
and suppressed use, and off. on a
standard PoF carbine, the plug is readily
accessible; however, the downside to the
longer hand-guard is that disassembly is
more of a pain in the hoop. if you have
more than three thumbs per hand, then
you should consider the shorter version,
as the tradeoff in terms of real estate
may be worth the amount of frustration
and swearing you’ll forgo when cleaning
time rolls around.
 Talkin’ ’BouT My GeneraTion
PoF has bucked the
recent trend toward ultra-slim
hand-guards, and for that
we should be grateful. while
skinny models might be de rigeur on a
Vogue photo shoot, when it comes to
getting down and dirty, the serious user
will usually beneft from a little more
meat in their hands. by which we mean
that if your mitt is a bit further away
from the barrel, you can spare yourself
12
some blisters, should you run more than
is su e
a couple of mags through your carbine.
The interface between hand-guard and
receiver is handled by an enormous
130 barrel nut, which acts as a heat sink
POFÕs Gen4 rail is now over the chamber area, and also by the
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
14 inches long and
covers the gas block. hand-guard’s proprietary raised rail
More real estate for section, which slips over the standard
your support hand to
grab onto, or to slam Pic rail, beefng it up considerably. This
into barricades. does mean, however, that optics now sit
higher than usual, necessitating the use
of low rings. in order to accommodate
scopes with fat objective lenses, the
hand-guard’s top rail features a remov-
able section. Pulling it off results in a
free-foat tube that is more comfortable
to hold and far less cheese grater-y.
extraction contraption
eugene stoner’s original design was
ahead of its time and has evolved into
a wildly successful weapon system.
Despite offering the user a lightweight,
ergonomic, and accurate rife, like most
man-made creations, it has its own set
of limitations. one of the earliest prob-
lems noted with the original m16s sent
to Vietnam was their tendency to suffer
stoppages caused by failures to extract
a fred case. Although the root cause of
this was determined to be a change in

specifcation of the propellant powder,
it highlighted some design limitations
when it comes to the size of its extrac-
tor, and how much force it can exert on
a case before the rim fails.
if you look closely at just about any
rife cartridge, you’ll notice that the
case is tapered to some degree. This
means that it has to move backwards
just a tiny amount before the case
breaks contact with the chamber walls.
The exception to this can be found at
the case neck, which is the only part
parallel to the bore. The neck has the
important task of holding the bullet in
place — as a result of this, it has to
expand more than any other part of the
cartridge. on fring, pressure slams the
case walls against the chamber, where
they seal off any propellant gasses until
the bullet leaves the bore. once the bul-
12
let exits and chamber pressures drop,
is su e
the case shrinks a little and usually
gives up its grip on the chamber walls.
if it doesn’t, the rife will either lock up
132 or the extractor will rip through the rim.
lurking inside the chamber neck
ilw e b .c o m
of the PoF’s nitrided barrel is a set of
four longitudinal grooves, which serve
to channel gas back as far as the case
Talkin’ ’BouT My GeneraTion
shoulder. This gas acts as a cushion
between brass and steel, reducing the
adhesion of the case and the chances
of an extraction problem. it’s an idea
that has been used extensively on de-
Stoppage from hell in a layed blowback systems, such as HK’s
regular AR-15 — just G3, but in that instance the grooves
the kind of situation
the POF chamber run almost to the case head. HKs have
attempts to address. a reputation for ruining brass, so we
First case separated at checked with PoF’s sponsored shooter,
the shoulder, leaving
the case neck jammed Nick saiti, who has been running one
in the chamber. Next of the new barrels for almost a year in
round was fed in
behind it. Shooter then three-gun competitions. Asked if he’d
hit the forward assist noticed any problems with case life,
a couple of times for
he replied, “i’m getting at least four
good measure, then
mortared the carbine, to fve reloads out of my cases before
ripping through the losing them on the range, while running
rim.
and gunning. i’ve not noticed any less
case life, but seem to have to trim a
little more often.” As someone who
has personally screwed up an upper
due to a case sticking in the chamber
neck and being ripped in two, i’m a fan
of anything that decreases the risk of
this happening and consider this a fair
tradeoff.
The Gen-4 lower receiver shows
Look inside the trigger several small evolutionary changes to
guard and you’ll see
POF’s new ambi bolt the original design, as well as one large
hold open. step forward. Finger grooves on either
side of the magwell offer a positive
location for the trigger fnger when it’s
not actually yanking the bang lever, and
the trigger guard itself is both enlarged
and integral to the frame. other worth-
while enhancements include a modular
single-stage trigger, billet charging
handle, upper tensioning screws, KNs
anti-walk pins, heavily fared magwell,
and magpul stock and pistol grip.
A lot of work has gone into making
this a completely ambidextrous weapon.
while there are many AR-pattern receiv-
ers that offer an ambi mag catch or
bolt release, i can think of only two
others that incorporate a bolt hold-open
that can be operated with either hand.
it’s one of those features that’s only
important when you really need it and
once experienced, results in an “Aha!”
moment. consider that over the course
of the AR’s service life, we’ve adapted
our drills to the point where, if you’re a
right-handed shooter, the strong hand
almost never leaves the pistol grip. The
one exception to this is when clearing a
stoppage — locking the bolt open and
reaching up into the magwell ensures
that the shooter looks like he’s translat-
ing sign language at mandela’s funeral.

Thankfully, the engineers at PoF have
incorporated a bolt catch into the area
behind the magwell, so now the shooter
can simply push upward with the trigger
fnger while racking the charging handle
with the weak hand. if you’re morally
opposed to inserting your fnger into the
trigger guard, then you can still use the
bolt catch located in the usual place.
And remove your bAD lever. And sell
your Garand. And your m1A.
at the test track
At the range, the new carbine turned
in performance worthy of its prede-
cessors. After running a few hundred
rounds through it to evaluate ergonom-
ics and shootability, i gave it to a bunch
of new shooters for an hour to see if
they could induce any malfunctions.
12
After being passed around like a cheap
is su e
hooker and fed like a stray dog, the
gun just kept running no matter what
was stuffed in the mag or how fast
134 it was emptied. And it got emptied a
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
Talkin’ ’BouT My GeneraTion
lot. Figuring that was enough abuse,
with smoke still curling off the barrel’s
exterior, i sat down at a bench with a
few rounds of 77-grain oTm ammo to
learn if the gun could still group. Yep.
still sub-moA.
it was while running target transi-
tion drills that i noticed that the rife
seems somehow frantic — like there’s
a whole lot of mechanical activity go-
ing on beneath its anonymous, matte
black exterior. it’s hard to defne, but
next to my regular colt competition
three-gun rife, the PoF seemed harsh
by comparison. which was a surprise,
because when i shot Nick saiti’s rig, i
was taken aback by how soft-shooting it
was for a piston gun. i mentioned this
in conversation with another of PoF’s
pro shooters, John mouret, the day
after he competed in the 3-Gun Nation
shoot-off in Vegas. “You’ve got to tune
the gun to your ammo,” he advised.
“The factory ships the rifes with the
largest diameter piston, so they run
with anything, but there’s not much
blow-by. use one of the smaller pistons
and the gun cycles much softer.”
if the powers that be cotton on to
this, they’ll ship the production gun with
a full set of pistons, or at least offer
them in a kit as an option. For the aver-
age user, it’s a non-issue — the carbine
will cycle anything that goes bang. but
if you’re looking to shave hundredths off
your split times, you’ll want to experi-
ment with different setups.
The latest iteration of the piston
AR comes with the kind of price tag
you’d expect, but delivers excellent
performance. whereas previously, if you
wanted full ambi controls you’d have to
bolt up a handful of aftermarket parts
and on a billet lower, they might work.
Then again, they might not. PoF offers
an extremely high-quality rife, with
ambidextrous functionality built in, that
cycles any ammo you care to feed it
and shoots lights out. seems to check
all relevant boxes...
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More reps.
Less Mirrors.
“And now As Festivus Rolls on, we Come to the FeAts oF stRength!”
By Pat McNaMara
IllustratIons By chris Bywater
Too often one is asked, “How much
can you bench?” — as if this were
some sort of useful way to measure
strength. To this question, I will typi-
cally answer, “No idea, but I can dead
lift 405 pounds for fve reps.” The
mouth-breather who asked the question
usually starts looking at me like I’ve got
a dick growing out of my forehead.
If we were to examine a single
exercise to measure strength, it should
more appropriately be a query on
how much one can dead lift or squat.
These types of exercises are also more
practical, and the motion is more fre-
quently replicated in actual day-to-day
scenarios.
In the past three issues of RECOIL,
we have been outlining my Combat
Strength Training program, which
improves how our combat chassis
operates. The program is performance
based, and performance is measured
by doing what you can with what you
have. This is critical — work with what
you have, versus striving toward bullshit
arbitrary standards. We have outlined
and given examples of workouts fo-
cused on power, speed, and quickness.
In this issue, we tackle strength.
Physical strength is the ability to
exert force on physical objects using
muscles. An individual’s physical
strength is determined by two factors:
the cross-sectional area of muscle
fbers recruited to generate force and
the intensity of that recruitment.
Why Train STrengTh?
Strength training builds muscle —
the stronger you are, the more muscles
you’ll have. However, strength training
is not bodybuilding; building muscle
is a byproduct of exercising, not its
goal. Strength training increases bone
density and — when done properly and
through the full range of motion — can
boost a person’s fexibility and balance.
Additionally, knowing that we have the
ability to resist being moved or broken
by an opposing force is a real conf-
dence booster.
Balance, speed, quickness, power, or
muscular development doesn’t present
results overnight. Increases in strength,
however, can be gauged even within
a week. All one has to do is to apply
the appropriate amount of tension to a
muscle group. It’s all about supply and
demand. You will quickly get out of it
what you put into it.
Building strength requires us to
push heavier weights. Before you touch
anything that increases resistance,
make sure you warm up properly.
The purpose is to increase your body
temperature to help improve muscle
and tendon fexibility and pliability, in
order to facilitate an improved range
of motion. Plan on spending about 10
is su e
minutes to warm up properly. Jog a
mile, jump rope, shadow box, pick your
12
poison.
As a part of my job, I travel a lot. I
train bad-asses to be better bad-asses.
137
I do this primarily on the fring range,
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
all year long in the blazing heat and in
the freezing rain. By the end of the day,
I am smoked. But I will still plan in a
workout at the end of day, without fail.
I guess what I am saying is remember
that old saying — excuses are like
assholes… If you plan your workout
ahead of time, play a highlight reel in
your head, see it happening, and see
yourself succeeding, you are more likely
to see it through at the end of your
graveyard shift, at the crack of freaking
dawn, or at the end of a long work day.
Tap into the power of visualization.
Some real-world examples of exhibit-
ing strength include prying open the
WARNING! door to a crisis site with a manual
The techniques,
exercises, and breaching tool, collapsing an adver-
content expressed in
sary’s jugular veins with a rear naked
this column are for
illustrative purposes choke, assisting a buddy over a wall
only. Consult your
either from the top or the bottom, or
physician before trying
any physical activity tipping over a so-called smartcar plas-
or nutritional plan.
tered in “Coexist” bumper stickers.
 More reps. Less Mirrors.

STrengTh WOrkOUTS
As part of my Combat Strength Training
strategy, I will work strength once a week,
typically performing a fve-by-fve-by-fve
program when working strength. This
includes fve strength motions for fve sets
at fve reps each, while increasing the re-
sistance for each set. Traditional strength
exercises work well, including squats,
dead lifts, shoulder press, bench press,
and pull-ups Here are some examples:
Dead Lift: Grip is our limiting factor to all
upper-body strength. Grip work is typically
neglected — or our poor grip is actually
masked by training aids. If you require
wraps, gloves or an alternating grip to per-
form exercises like a dead lift, you need
to work on your grip strength.
Bench Press: We human beings are load-
bearing creatures. We are not designed
to bench press. Do not let ego determine
how many plates you stack onto the
barbell. If it hurts, decrease the amount
of tension or simply don’t do it.
Dips with Bands: Use bands for dips in the
same fashion as you would with pull-ups.
Increase or decrease tension as necessary.

Squats: If you are not including squats in

your workout, you are not really work-
ing out. Squats are functional — and
functional exercises help your body to
perform real-life activities, as opposed
to simply being able to operate pieces
of gym equipment. When you do squats,
you build muscle and help your muscles
work more effciently, as well as promote
mobility and balance. Squats obviously
help to build your leg muscles, but they
are also calorically challenging and
create an anabolic environment, promot-
ing body-wide muscle building. When
performed intensely, squats elicit greater
responses that in turn generate elevations
of testosterone and HGH (Human Growth
Hormone). This is vital for muscle growth
and will also help to improve muscle mass
when you train other areas of your body.
Pull-Ups with Band: If the sack of cottage
cheese you call a body is creating too
much downward force for you to pull up,
use a rubber band to help you and de-
crease that amount of tension. Over time,
you will require a smaller band, or you
will be able to perform more repetitions.
It’s also a good idea to lose a couple of
pounds from your gelatinous physique. On
the other hand, if you can perform good
pull-ups without a sissy “kipping” motion,
use a band to provide more tension in-
stead (as pictured). Increase the number
of bands or band thickness with each set.

Overhead Press. The press is a highly

effective compound upper-body exercise.
Performing it standing (rather than seat-
ed) recruits many more muscle groups
to maintain balance and support the lift.
Like the squat and dead lift, it can be
thought of as a whole-body exercise, to
some extent.
 More reps. Less Mirrors.

STrengTh FiniSherS rope Pull: Assume a squat rope Climb: Climbing rope requires the en-
Just like any other Combat Strength position and keep your feet tire combat chassis to work as a unit. There
Training workout — whether it focuses planted in the same spot while is an art form to this, and
on power, speed, and quickness, or pulling in a heavy load. there is only one way to
hypertrophy — exercises should be climb a rope.
done in circuit.
I will plan in a total-body smoke-fest
to fnish off anything that I may have
neglected. A rope pull from a full squat
position, a farmer’s carry, or Atlas stone
lifts are great ways to fnish and to
increase the combat chassis’ strength
and to elicit muscle recruitment. What
we mean by muscle recruitment is the Farmer Carry: Grasp two heavy objects,
ability to activate more and more mus- one in each hand, and walk as far as you
cle fbers and motor neurons (referred can. This develops your core, balance, grip
to as a motor unit) in a muscle as resis- strength, and upper body.
tance is increased. During movement You defnitely must include
you utilize adjunct muscles to assist this one in your strength
muscles that become overburdened. workout.
So, the recruitment of successive motor
units as you continue to exert force
provides you with increasing levels of
contractile strength.
Here are a few fnishers that will
encourage muscle recruitment:

AbouT The
AuThor
Tic Toc or Barbell Torque: This is a rota-
tional exercise that requires a large group of
Pat (Mac) McNamara has 22 years Weighted Sit-Up: We should work our abs muscles to work in unison. It’s a full-body
of special-operations experience, 13 every day. On strength day I will simply in- exercise that will develop a strong core.
of which were in the U.S. Army’s 1st
crease the resistance utilizing this exercise. Set up a bar with a barbell on one end and
SFOD-D (Delta). He has extensive
experience in hostile fre/combat Starting in a squat position, pick grasp it with both hands. Start on one side
zones in the Middle East and Eastern up a heavy object and push up of your waist, push up, then back down to
Europe. He trains individuals at basic to a standing position. the other side.
and advanced levels of marksman-
ship and combat tactics. Based on his
wide-ranging experience, McNamara em-
phasizes a continuous thought process
and accountability, utilizing a training
When it comes to working out, if just
methodology that is safe, effective, and
combat relevant. He retired from the you do what you’ve always done, then
Army’s premier hostage-rescue unit as you will simply get what you’ve always
a sergeant major and is the author of gotten. Stop pussy-footing around with
T.A.P.S. (Tactical Application of Practical
Shooting) and Sentinel.
mamby pamby sissy concentration
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 What’s Five Methods oF
signaling that Can

Your sign?
save Your liFe
By Ryan Lee PRice
PhotograPhy By Ryan Lee PRice
and nataLie PRice

At the top of the rise, you look around
and realize that you haven’t seen a
familiar landmark since Tuesday, your
supplies have dwindled to near nothing,
and there’s no hope of you walking out
of this one on your own. It’s time to
admit you’re lost and call in the cavalry.
Did you remember to pack your ACR
ResQLink+ personal locator beacon?
Great. Push the button, kick up your
feet, and wait for the helo to arrive. But
what if the only comms you packed
is your mobile phone, thinking Sprint,
T-Mobile, or AT&T will be your salvation?
Think again. It might be 2014, but
we’re stranded in a technological chasm
between futuristic smartphones and
less-than-stellar wireless service. And
even though your phone might have a
compass, fashlight, and map apps, it’s
a paperweight if you want to make a call
for help. That’s when you can get into
some real trouble.
Wilderness survival instructor Kenton
Whitman suggests that everyone should
learn other ways of calling for help
that don’t require a wireless tower or
satellite link. “Signaling gets us out of
the ‘OMG, I’m lost!’ mentality that can
assault even highly trained individuals
and gets us into our rational, thinking
minds,” says Whitman, co-founder
of ReWild University in Menomonie,
Wisconsin. “It is also the perfect
tactic for creating a sense of calm. It
focuses us on a single task, the one
that will most likely result in getting you
rescued.”
Though the NSA can zero in on you
in seconds if you’re Tweeting how hot
Jennifer Lawrence looked at the Oscars,
it’ll be hard to fnd you if you’re off the
grid even for a short moment. So, you’ll
have to learn to stand out and make
some noise.

Hank Fannin, operator of Green
Earth Survival School, says you
can accomplish this with a mirror
and whistle. “Once you’re lost, stay
prepared. Keep your signal mirror and
whistle on a lanyard and around your
neck so they’re instantly accessible,”
says Fannin, a U.S. Air Force veteran
who teaches various survival classes in
Florida. “If you hear a search aircraft
or ground search party approaching,
say to yourself, ‘This is my one and only
chance. If they miss me this time, there
won’t be a second chance.’”
If you’re lacking any communication
technology or you’ve surpassed
the limits of its batteries, there
are still a variety of ways to let the
search-and-rescue teams know your
location. “Think broadly,” Whitman
suggests. “What in your equipment
or your environment could establish
a connection? Do you have materials
to make a fre? Is there a frozen lake
where sticks or tracks could spell out
the word ‘help?’”
Be resourceful and creative. Think
not only from an aerial perspective, but
from the ground too. “A lost friend of
mine separated 100 feet of paracord
into strands and made a string that was
700 feet long,” Whitman says. “This
was strung in a long line from tree to
tree, creating a tactile and visual signal
that ground rescuers later stumbled
upon which led directly to him.” Engage
your creativity, and you’ll not only fnd
that there are more signaling options
available than you thought, but you’ll
also keep your mind occupied and calm
as you puzzle through different ways to
make sure that it’s a rescue instead of
a search for your body.
Here are fve effective ways to signal
for help when you’re lost and don’t have
a phone or beacon.
1) Rule of ThRees
For starters, put yourself out in the
open. Find either the largest clearing or
the highest peak accessible and plant
yourself there. Remembering the Rule
of Threes will save your life. Three of
anything is a call for help: gunshots,
whistles, fres, car horns, etc. Bang
two rocks together in a river valley,
and you’ll notice the sound travels very
well. A gunshot can be heard over 10
miles in thickly wooded terrain, and
a shrill whistle blown in three quick
successions is such an unnatural sound
that will gain attention over a similar
distance. (Helpful side note: certain
manufacturers like The North Face have
whistles integrated in the chest buckles
of their backpacks.)
When building three signal fres for
a night rescue, make sure they are at
is su e
least 5 to 6 feet tall and approximately
30 feet from each other, either in a
12
straight line or, preferably, a triangle. If
the situation prohibits building a fre,
try blinking your fashlight from the
143
top of a hill — in the right conditions,
Rec o ilw e b .c o m
it can be seen for miles around you.
Fannin adds: “Scan the horizon with
your fashlight, stopping every 15
degrees or so to repeat the signal. SOS
There’s no excuse not in Morse code [three dits, three dahs,
to pack an inexpensive and three dits] is known well enough by
whistle. Three whistle
everyone to be a useful message. Most
blasts every minute
will help rescuers fnd importantly, keep trying.”
you from miles away.

2) MiRRoR, MiRRoR
There are a wide variety of signal
mirrors on the market, from simple
refective plastic surfaces to high-tech
Lexan polycarbonate heliographs with
complex aiming holes. They’re mostly
inexpensive and should be included
in every pack and car you own — not
to mention on every person who is
travelling with you. In proper sunlight,
in ideal situations, a simple mirror can
refect over 7-million lumens of light up
to 50 miles away. That is a bright spot
that will attract attention, especially if
someone is looking for you.
“A mirror isn’t the only refective
surface there is,” Whitman says. “A
polished knife blade can be just as
bright.” When the dirigible Italia went
down on its way to the North Pole
in 1928, mechanic Natale Cecioni
smoothed out the foil wrapper from
a chocolate bar and made a mirror to
successfully signal for help, despite
suffering from two badly broken legs.
3) sMoke signals
Besides the psychologically
comforting effects a fre has on
people lost in the great outdoors, a
smoke fre — one specifcally built
to create as much smoke as possible
— is the best way to attract the
greatest amount of attention over a
wide range. On a windless day, smoke
from a 6-foot smoke-fre teepee
construction can reach thousands of
feet into the air.
Although there are numerous
companies that offer colored smoke
canisters, pen fares, and regular
Don’t have a signal fares for just this purpose, building a
mirror? Improvise
smoke generator is relatively easy.
with your refective
smartphone, a Try to create a color of smoke that
woman’s compact, contrasts with the background: dark
or even a survival
smoke against a light background,
blanket.
and vice versa. If you smother a large
fre with green leaves, moss, limbs
straight from the tree, the fre will
produce white smoke. If you add
rubber or oil-soaked rags to a fre,
you will get black smoke. Of course,
take appropriate precautions. Don’t
A smoke generator
using leaves or
branches will provide
a distinct marker for
rescuers. Though in
snowy conditions,
it’s best to burn
something that will
produce black smoke.
Photo courtesy of
Maple Leaf Survival.
What’s Your sign?
burn anything toxic that can create
poisonous fumes. And laying waste
to an entire forest because you were
careless won’t look good on the
rescue report.
4) Body signals
In the United States, search-and-
rescue standards are regulated by
the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) and the
National Fire Protection Association,
sometimes based on military
procedures and training. The results
are trickled down to the organizations
that have boots on the ground
searching for people, such as the
Mountain Rescue Association and
the National Association of Search
and Rescue, not to mention nearly
every law enforcement agency in the
country. ASTM forms its standards
based on the recommendations
regarding search and rescue from
Committee F32, a group of 85
men and women dedicated to
standardizing procedures that
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will best get you found. One such
standard is body signals.
Though there are several
body signals you can employ to
communicate with a helicopter or
airplane (“do not land,” “yes,” “no,”
and “urgent,” among others), there’s
one that will prove the most useful. If
you see a rescue plane overhead and
it’s close enough to spot you, simply
hold both of your arms above your
head. Waving them back and forth is
probably your frst instinct, but don’t
do it. Waving arms actually tells the
pilot to go away!
Remember, arms
waving means “don’t 5) signal Panels
land,” while two arms The military has been issuing and
outstretched means using ground signal panels for years.
“help!” There are a
Designated the VS-17/GVX panel, the
host of other body
signals, but this one is 24x72-inch pink, orange, and black
most important. expanse of tough fabric is designed
to withstand high winds and adverse
situations. Complete with tie-downs,
the concept is that a bright cloth
stretched out against a contrasting
Signal panels — be background is easily seen from the air,
they military-grade and when combined together with other
equipment or the rain
such panels, can form simple signals
cover from a tent — is
a perfect contrast for any passing aircraft. By folding
to your surroundings and combining the panel in specifc
when seen from the air.
ways, you can create a message. For
example, a large X means medical
attention is required, while a V means
needs assistance.
Creating letters is not very practical
for a single lost hiker who may only
hank fannin, green earth survival school www.greenearthsurvivalschool.com
sherman kong, Maple leaf survival www.mapleleafsurvival.com
kenton Whitman, ReWild university www.rewildu.com
What’s Your sign?
have one panel; however, it should be
spread out regardless, as a contrasting
color is a good way to get attention
from the air. Lacking a VS-17, consider
the rain cover from your tent, bright
colored clothes, or an open sleeping
bag spread out in a wide space.
Alternately, use natural elements
around you. Move logs or rocks to spell
words, or at least place them in a large
geometric pattern, contrasting with
the surrounding landscape. If in the
snow, tramp the snow to form letters
or symbols and fll the depression
with contrasting material (e.g. twigs
or branches). In sand, use boulders,
vegetation, or seaweed to form a
symbol or message. In brush-covered
areas, cut out patterns in the vegetation
or sear the ground. In tundra, dig
trenches or turn the sod upside down.
However, Sherman Kong of Maple
Leaf Survival reminds us that you can
master these fve signaling techniques,
but they won’t do you any good if you’re
not prepared for how bad it’ll really
be when crap really does hit the fan.
“Although there are several excellent
ways to signal for rescue (such as
smoke fres by day, fames by night,
signal mirrors, etc.), keep in mind that
Mother Nature may not always allow
these methods to work,” says Kong,
who teaches mostly cold-weather
survival skills in Manitoba, Canada. “For
example, strong winds may weaken your
smoke fre, and clouds could render
your signal mirror useless. Plan for such
variables, and carry the appropriate
equipment for all conditions.”
Your life might depend on it.
sources
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