WARRIOR TALK NEWS

The X-15 Drum Magazine

by Suarez International Ambassador Jon Payne

My name is Jon Payne, I'm an Ambassador of the Suarez Group. I have 25 years of experience as an armed professional that spans across the Globe.  I've protected Generals in the Middle East and priority assets in what we referred to as the Northern Tier. I've patrolled small towns and large counties as well as searched for fugitives in the swamps and bayous of SE TX. I've made much of my living while using the AR platform. 

In the past, many drum magazines were not only over priced, but they were excessively heavy and fragile.  These older drum magazines were viewed more of a toy than serious gear. Now we have the X15, this over built piece of hard ware doesn't change the game; this drum mag changes the rules. 

The X15 is 50 rounds of 5.56mm while not only being shorter than a STANAG is still at least four inches shorter than a Surefire Quad stack!  When working from vehicles or any tight place for that matter, size matters. Anyone who argues to the contrary is either a liar, or has never done vehicle borne operations. The X15 also allows you to carry more ammo in two mags than you could packing three STANAGs. 

I routinely carry three spare STANAGs in my TIB that I store in my Sheriff's Office Unit. Now that I'm using the X15, I may cut that back by one and add some additional blow out gear in its place. With the X15 in place it's much easier exiting and entering the vehicle. On the same line of reasoning, it would perform just as well as a bedside tool to repel the hordes from the borders. I have no reason to believe 50 rounds of Hornady TAP or Speer Gold Dot won't handle any problem I could encounter this side of reality. 

The X-15 Drum Magazine, available at One Source Tactical.

Advantages of the G3 and the HK System

by Suarez International Ambassador John Chambers

In the course of my military career, I was “blessed” with the opportunity to train with, and serve with, many of our international allies.  Since I was part of a Long Range Surveillance Detachment, the units we trained and worked with tended to be very interesting, and very well equipped with a variety of weapons.  Whether they were German Paras, British Ghurkas, or Japanese Intelligence troops, these soldiers were highly trained and I took every opportunity to become familiar with their weapons, and to learn from their experiences with those weapons.  

Because of this, I have had the opportunity to work with the three main battle rifles found on battlefields around the world:  The FAL, the M14, and the HK G3.  While all are very fine weapons, the G3 offers some major advantages for both the Guerrilla Sniper and the Insurgent Rifleman and unlike the other rifles; an excellently built and priced example of the G3 is available now in the form of the PTR91.

Accuracy:  The G3 is very accurate for a battle rifle.  Most FALs are typically a 3 MOA rifle with NATO ball, and the M14 is about the same.  My G3 (PTR 91) will shoot 1.5 MOA with NATO spec ball ammo and match ammo will cut that almost in half.  The lack of moving parts that affect the barrel harmonics is a serious advantage for those who prefer an accurate semi auto for sniping or DMR work.

Modularity:  Stocks, forearms, trigger packs, pistol grips are easily interchanged.  As the mission or your desire dictates you can have a folding stock, a set trigger, a stock that is adjustable for length of pull, railed forearm, etc.  MILSPEC optical sights that are both QD and RTZ can be added very easily.  If MILSPEC is not your preference, there are a wide variety of excellent scope mounts that can be added that will let the end user take advantage of the large array of optics that take advantage of MILSTD 1913 interface.  Variants with the rail installed from the factory are now available and if you have a rifle without the rail, the rail is easily added by a skilled gunsmith.  The FAL, and especially, the M14 are more difficult to set up for optics than the G3, and the G3 is the only battle rifle that has quick detachable optics that are truly rugged and reliable. 

A G3 can be configured as a battle rifle, DMR, or have a grenade launcher attached as the mission requires and all of these modifications can be made by the end user, while they are sitting on their haunches with the parts are spread out on a poncho in front of them.

Compactness:  Compared to other battle rifles the G3 is very compact.  The overall length is just over 40 inches, which is the same length as an M16!  By comparison, the FAL is 43 inches long and the overall length of the M14 is almost 45 inches!  And even though it is just a matter of a few ounces, the G3 is the lightest of the three rifles.

Rugged Sights:  The front sight is very well protected; the rear sight is mounted very low and has a minimum number of moving parts.  Once zeroed, it stays zeroed and there are not any “tempting nobs” to be spun in boredom and curiosity.  The sight picture provided by the issue sights is very precise for long range shooting and in a CQB setting, there is nothing better than the “ring of death” that is the HK pattern front sight housing.  Just put the target in the ring and work the trigger.  It is the simplest version of “meat and metal” aiming that one will encounter.

Excellent magazines:   LIGHT, rugged, and inexpensive!  A lifetime supply of new HK magazines can be purchased for the price of a basic load of brand new FAL or M14 magazines.  The magazines will be lighter too, which means you can carry more ammo for the same weight penalty.

Simple design:  The roller delayed blowback action is simple and the design eliminates many parts and manufacturing steps as compared to other designs.  This leads to increased reliability under harsh conditions as compared to The FAL or M14.  The G3 is used by both regular and irregular forces in the harshest environments on the planet.  Whether it is arctic warfare conditions (Norway, Denmark, Sweden), the sand and rock of the Middle East/SW Asia (Pakistan, Iran, Turkey), the jungles of Central and South America (El Salvador, Paraguay, Chile, etc.), or the harshest environments of Africa (Angola to Zaire!) a G3 will keep running after other rifles have failed.  The ONLY rifle that matches or exceeds the reliability of the G3 is the AK, and it is nowhere near the precision, do it all, weapon that is the G3.

The roller delayed design can also compensate for minor variations in the dimensions of the cartridge, and as the weapon system wears the rollers are able to be replaced at the end user level, unlike the bolts of other weapon systems that must be fitted or checked by a gunsmith or armorer.

Systems Approach:  One of the hallmarks of the HK weapon system is that the weapon designers took a true systems approach to how the weapons operated and how they were designed to be operated. Quite simply, if you can run a G3, you can run a HK33 (5.56mm) or the MP5 SMG.  The same goes for basic disassembly of the weapons.  The bolt handles, safeties, triggers, and sights are IDENTICAL.

The importance of this advantage cannot be emphasized enough.  It cuts the training time for users dramatically.  Case in point:  the first time I was trained on the MP5, I already had experience running the G3 and the HK33 in their civilian versions.  I picked up the MP5 and I immediately knew how to run the SMG, as everything was identical. 

Some might not believe that this has any application in the civilian world, but consider the following.  It is possible to purchase high quality civilian variations of each of these weapons.  It is entirely possible for one build a complete long gun solution: a battle rifle (PTR91), a SBR assault rifle (Vector V93K) and a SBR SMG/carbine (Vector V94) that all operate identically.  All your muscle memory and training will transfer between the weapons!

Final Thoughts:  The advantages of the G3 system are numerous and in the form of the PTR91 it is the best rifle deal on the planet.  There is no other rifle that gives the skilled user the combination of features for the money that this rifle does.  Something to consider:  before the PTR rifles were available, people willingly paid $2500 to $3000 for a used HK91 in good condition because IT WAS WORTH IT.  Now, you can purchase two rifles that are the same quality, with a lifetime supply of magazines, for the same price.   Is that an advantage?  You be the judge.  

7.62x51mm - The Universal Rifle Cartridge

by Chris Upchurch, Director of Marketing

If you want one do-everything cartridge, the 7.62x51mm and its civilian sister, the .308 Winchester, are the best candidates. They provide sufficient power to reach out to 800–1000 yards, to penetrate many types of barrier or armor, and to bring down most game animals reliably. This combination of exterior and terminal ballistics comes in a package small enough to be easily adaptable to semi-automatic weapons.

These cartridges the had their genesis in the days after World War II. The United Staes had seen great success with its semi-automatic Garand rifle (Patton pronounced it, “the greatest battle implement ever devised”. It was widely recognized that the Garand’s biggest shortcoming was its use of an eight-round en-bloc clip for reloading. A detachable magazine would provide greater capacity and quicker reloading.

This lead to interest in a shorter round, one that would allow a smaller, handier magazine than the venerable .30–06. Designers based their work on the .300 Savage lever action rifle cartridge, modifying it to feed better in semi-automatic weapons. The end result was half an inch shorter than the .30–06, but thanks to new powder technology it achieved this reduction in length with little loss in performance.

Winchester first brought the cartridge to the civilian market as the .308 in 1952, and NATO standardized on the 7.62x51mm two years later. Thanks to the NATO adoption it became by far the most common caliber for battle rifles and medium machine guns in weapons like the G3, FAL, and M14 rifles, and the M240, M60, and MG3 machine guns. The .308 has a legacy as a popular sporting rifle cartridge, chambered in bolt action rifles as well as semi-autos.

In individual weapons, the 7.62x51mm was eclipsed by the 5.56mm in the 70s and 80s. However, it remained the king of crew served weapons and served as a sniper round. Recently, the 7.62x51mm rifle has been seeing something of a renaissance in the U.S. military, driven primarily by the need for longer effective ranges, particularly in Afghanistan. M14 rifles have been dusted off and rebuilt and new 7.62x51mm designs, like the SCAR and HK 417, have entered production.

When comparing the 7.62x51mm to it’s competitors, we’re primarily talking about the 5.56mm and the 7.62x39mm. While there are certainly more powerful cartridges out there, they are largely in the realm of bolt-action rifles (or semi-autos that are too large and heavy to really qualify as fighting rifles).

The advantages of the 7.62x51mm over the 5.56 and 7.62x39 can be summed up in one word: mass. The heavier .30 caliber round will buck the wind much better than a .223. The 7.62x39 splits the difference between the .223 and .308, but it has a much lower sectional density, meaning it will do worse in the wind and will drop much quicker. This is not to say that 7.62x39 and .223 cannot be used at longer distances, I’ve seen them shot effectively out to 600 and 800 yards, respectively. But those shots would have been easier with a .308, particularly in bad wind conditions.

The other place the 7.62x51mm’s extra mass comes into play is when you hit something with it. It’s going to hit targets harder, particularly at long ranges. It also does a much better job on intermediate barriers than the 5.56mm. If you need to shoot through stuff, this is a huge advantage.

If you need one cartridge than can serve everything from across the room to 800 yards, for self-defense, hunting, or target shooting, 7.62x51mm is the way to go.

Rifle Carry Modes

First I want to define the difference between a Carry method from a Ready method.  A Ready can be expanded to a Ready To Shoot Position.  These are used immediately before and during the fight and share one common attribute - that they either already have the muzzle on target, or allow the quick movement of the muzzle to a target once it has been identified. 

These are what the bulk of the tactical shooting community are familiar with since they comprise the starting point for all the drills commonly done in a rifle class.  But they require a focus and intensity that is short lived.  For example, one cannot maintain a modern Contact ready, nor a traditional Low Ready for a five hour hike up a mountain.

Different in scope from a Ready To Shoot Position are Carry Methods (one cannot really call them
"positions" as one is usually on the move).  Carry methods allow for moving the rifle from one point to another.  In a military/tactical context, they are used for moving towards the general area of
where the fight might be.  Notice I said "might be" and not "to the fight". 

There is a subtle difference in anticipation, and apprehension.  If I needed to cover five miles and I knew that at any moment, from any unspecified point, I may encounter an enemy, I would be using a much more "ready to shoot" method over a Carry Method, but it would be exhausting. 

The Carry Method allows you to carry the rifle in the field, in situations where aggression is not
specifically expected.  They allow for faster and freer movement that any sort of Ready To Shoot Positions.

First we have sling carry.  I do not favor the so-called "American Sling Carry".  That would be muzzle up on the primary shoulder.  Common in the "sporting world" this interferes with the sidearm, and does not lend itself to a directional dismount sling-present to target.  A relic of bygone times, we do not use it.  

Instead we favor the African Sling Carry which involves muzzle down support side carry.  This is very convenient in the field and allows for a quick dismount should it be required.  If both hands are needed to climb the preferred sling carry is simply to sling across the back.  This allows you to climb up a rock face, a building or anything you might need to do with both hands without needing to constantly manage a slipping sling and rifle.  If wearing a ruck, the sling can simply be made longer.

If sling carry is not desirable, there are other options.  These other options are rarely seen outside progressive schools as they usually do not have a reason to exist on the "traditional rifle range".  But since we do a great deal of work in the AZ back country, we have found them to be quite useful.

First is Carry at the Balance.  Simply find the balance of the rifle and grab it there.  This works well
for running and for moving short distances in haste.   The Elmer Fudd types will go apoplectic that the muzzle is not pointed to the ground.  Well, I seriously do not care what they think.  Carry at the balance can be seen anywhere light equipped men need to cover ground quickly.  Reminiscent of carrying a spear, it is both natural and easy.

Second is Tucked Carry.  The more the arm swings with the rifle, the more energy is expended.  Bring the rifle up under the arm, tucking it in, and the march or hike will be a bit easier.

Third is Cradle Carry.  Just like carrying a baby, cradle carry brings the rifle across your body close in, held by the arm against the body.      

Every rifleman will have a preference, so try them all out and determine which one suits you, your
topography and your personal equipment best.

WWW.ONESOURCETACTICAL.COM

The M4 "Pistol"

We have been working with this weapon some time now and I think it is a vastly under-rated system.  To recap.  I bought a 10.5" LMT Upper unit from one of our staff instructors.  It came as pictured less the Micro Aimpoint.  I had a number of M4 lowers in stock so I grabbed one and transferred to myself it as a pistol.  This would eliminate any possible concerns over the "constructive possession" issues. I added a pistol buffer tube and began working with it. More on the pistol buffer tube matter later.

We have had "pistol" discussions before, mostly relating to the AK series of stcokless SBR rifles.  These have zero utility and should be avoided.  That is what I have said from the beginning.  The M4 however, due to the design need of having a receiver extension (aka "Buffer Tube"), allows it to be used exactly as a rifle...almost.

We used two different systems to use the M4 pistol (I almost want to call it a "stockless rifle" since that is in effect what we have).  One we obtained from our friends in the Czech Special Forces.  They have a way to shoot the diminutive Skorpion VZ-61 Machine Pistol using three points of contact.  They place the buttstock on their cheek and ignore the shoulder.  Being a 32ACP, only Justin Beiber would find the recoil objectionable. This is best used for CQB, or close range problems where a center of mass (or center of face) shot is required.  The rifle...err, ah..pistol, is brought up to the face, and fired as soon as you have alignment, seeing what you need to see. Quite fast actually and reminiscent of the old SAS MP5 techniques. 

Invariably someone will try to use some sort of sling to "enhance" this.  I advise against it as it is simply unnecessary and return nothing for the effort.  Just bring it up, get that visual index, and press.

But this system is not solely for CQB.  We have shot this out to 300 yards and hit IPSC steels repeatedly.  When greater accuracy is needed for longer shots, or for extremely precise close shots, it is a simple matter to obtain that fourth point of contact by bringing the end of the buffer tube back into the shoulder.

It is also a simple matter to reach out with the weapon (we have taken it to 300 yards, but 200 is probably more reasonable ballistically) in any of the usual supported rifle firing positions.  You may need to modify them slightly, as you would when working with a short stocked rifle, but the results speak for themselves.

Several students in the recent rifle course noted that while an SBR may not be legal in all states, this M4 Pistol will not only be legal anyplace a handgun is legal, but also legally carried with any CCW permit.  Interesting option for those living in left-leaning regions of the country.

We have also found the M4 Pistol to be an excellent vehicle weapon, being extremely light and handy and capable of maneuvering in the close confines of a Tahoe, Jeep, BMW, or similar sized automobile. 

Invariably there will be those on the internet that will tell you that you could put on a rifle buffer tube and bring up documents and letter from the ATF.  Look guys...a pistol buffer tube is about fifty bucks.  Do you really want to kick over the ATF anthill for fifty bucks?  I do not.  I have friends that work for that agency and I called them to ask.  The unanimous reply was to not be a cheapskate and try to find some loophole to avoid spending fifty bucks.  I agree.

Try the concept out, I think you will be amazed at what you can do with the M4 Pistol. Oh, by the way...since i live in AZ, I did submit my Form 1 and send in $200 to make it a bonafide SBR, but for the guys that cannot do that, this is a very viable option.

 

The Ultra-Lightweight AR

When Eugene Stoner was designing the original AR–15 rifle, one of the main design objectives was for the rifle to be very lightweight. Indeed, as adopted the M16A1 tipped the scales at just 6.5 pounds. In the years since, heavy barrels, picatinny rail attachments and other additions have pushed up the weight of the average infantryman’s rifle considerably.

Despite this trend, advances in carbon fiber and polymers have made it possible to move in the opposite direction, towards an even lighter rifle. For instance the CAV–15 MKII lower is a full pound lighter than a conventional AR lower.

While a lighter lower is definitely a benefit, a lot of the added weight is actually in the upper. Pencil barrels have been around since the days of the original M16. While they passed somewhat out of fashion, they are still available and make for a very lightweight, quick handling rifle.

Picatinny rail systems have pushed up the weight of the modern combat rifle, both because the rail systems themselves can be quite hefty and because they offer the seemingly irresistible temptation to keep attaching stuff. Conventional, non-railed handguards offer a lightweight alternative, but this means forgoing the benefits of a free float forend and the ability to attach any hardware. New technology has once again provided a solution. Carbon fiber hanguards, such as those from Lancer Systems provides free float handguard systems that weigh almost nothing, yet provide a free float forend and the ability to mount small pieces of picatinny rail forend in strategic locations. Resisting the temptation to hang everything but the kitchen sink off the rifle is not a problem that can be solved by technology.

Combining these features: a polymer lower, pencil barrel, and carbon fiber handguard, and you can put together an exceptionally lightweight rifle. I borrowed a pencil barreled upper with a Lancer carbon fiber handguard from our General Manager, Tom Cornelius and mated it up with a CAV–15 MKII lower. This combination weighs in at just 5.5 pounds. This is almost unbelievably light compared to the average AR–15, and the light weight makes the rifle exceptionally light and handy. Throw on a small, light optic like the Aimpoint Micro and this would be a truly great lightweight carbine.

Get the the CAV–15 MKII lower at One Source Tactical.

Owning The Night - Which Path?

Gunfighting has always been an ongoing study. There are innovations being made constantly, both in the tactical (aka skills) and technical (aka gear) areas. It is a mistake to focus exclusively on one, and ignore the other. For example, one may have very good night combat skills, but his ability to apply will be severely limited if all he has is a 5 shot J frame with a mini maglite. On the other hand, a man with a PVS-14 and an OTAL laser that has no tactical skills will not fare any better. The key then is to have the technical to match the tactical. And when one considers that the tactical is more easily improved than the technical, it makes sense to start with the best kit possible, and then grow into it.

One strong concern for many has always been the "fight at night" thing. Like all conflicts we can divide them into reactive and proactive.

We can typify the "reactive" event as follows. You are walking to your car in a dimly lit parking lot at 11:00 PM and are suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by two thugs. We are not looking at total darkness, but rather at a situation where there may not be enough light to read the Wall Street Journal, but certainly enough to see aggressive physical action directed to you. No need for any lights, lasers, or anything else in a reactive event such as this. The key to victory is the ability to move quickly, and shoot with the visual elements available. Some of these elements may include lasers, mini red dot sights, point shooting, etc.

There is also the "proactive". Proactive is far different in that you are not "surprised", but rather have knowledge of what is happening. Having this information, one can get ahead of it rather than being overtaken by events. In years past, trainers offered lip service to the proactive low light problem by teaching the Harries position, or the Surefire hold. A small sub-art was born around the use of the small handheld/weapon mounted flashlight as manufactured by Surefire, Streamlight, etc. Where these sub-arts lack is in the almost exclusive focus on "white light" and its use in "target identification".

In fact, target identification is only a small part of the problem, and actually quite simple for most of us. Think of this - your wife and two children are behind you in your bedroom. How much actual "target identification" do you need for that 6 foot tall figure with the big knife sneaking around at the end of the hallway?

Other aspects of the problem include operator safety, and I think that takes precedence over target identification. I ran an experiment in class a few years ago. We had an impromptu conflict of sorts during a low light section. One student, a sales rep for a flashlight company, was advocating the blinding and debilitating effects of a super bright candlepower strobe. That it would not only identify and distract the adversary, both desirable characteristics for the police, but make him incapable of any effective response on the source of the light. Always willing to test out a theory, I set up an experiment.

I took a super bright light and inserted it into a cardboard target, lens toward the firing line. I took two military police guys in class, and had them face away from the target. They were armed with MP5 SMGs. I had them close their eyes and wait. Their instructions were that when I yelled "fight", they were to turn and engage the source of the light as they moved off the X. As they stood by, I turned on the light in the target bright and strobing. I then got out of the way and yelled, "fight!"

In a few seconds, both operators had moved off the X and peppered the target with about twenty rounds each. The flashlight was miraculously not hit, but the target was fairly well destroyed. The bright strobe prevented them from getting a sight picture (like all good guys use), but it did not prevent them from point shooting it a cumulative total of over forty times even if they were "blinded by the light".

Moral of the story is this - The use of light may identify your threat, but it will also give away your position and safety.

Solution to both identify the threat positively while at the same time keeping you totally safe? That is the tactical application of modern technology - night vision.

To put its position in the realm of history, consider these things. What would Custer have given for several armed and armored Humvees at Little Big Horn? What would Napoleon have given for modern Air Support at Waterloo? It is that much of a game changer.

That the technology is desirable is not an issue. Usually the only concern is cost. Custer and Napoleon would have loved such an advantage...but they would have had to pay for it. All advantages, whether flying a plane, diving to the bottom of the ocean, or driving 200 mph, will cost. And being able to positively identify a face as friend or foe across a large room, and kill it if a foe, also has its price. But in the realm of "fighting at night" it holds the position of being the ultimate solution to the problem.

How costly is it? A complete home defender set up is no more than one would pay to set up a good sniper rifle kit (rifle, optics, and accessories). The main point of discussion is often whether one could save money by opting for an apparently less expensive Generation 1 or 2 unit over a Generation 3. I do not think that is a good option, and here is why.

Whatever you buy has to fulfill the mission. The mission can be defined loosely into thirds. Each third is important. Those thirds are; maintaining operator's position hidden, positive identification of the threat in darkness, and finally, the ability to deal with the threat successfully. Not one of the thirds, but implicit in the exercise...it has to work. We tested a number of popular, economy-priced units and many failed to work out of the box!

The lack of brightness as well as resolution in the Gen1 and Gen2 tubes isolates the operator from his surroundings. Situational awareness is severely compromised. With these units, one can see a blob, but there is no comparison in identification with what you get in Gen 3. You will often hear that Gen 1 and gen 2 units can be made better with the use of an IR light. That is true, although nowhere near what a true Gen 3 unit will provide. But regardless, you should consider that night vision units are common today and a constantly running IR light will be as much a detriment to you as a constantly running white light, if your adversary is also equipped with Night Vision.

Finally is the issue of lifespan. Generation 1 - Expected lifespan is 1500 hours. Generation 2 - Expected lifespan is 2500 hours. Generation 3 Expected lifespan is 10,000 + hours. Your Generation 3 unit will last over four times as long as the lesser quality and featured Gen 2, and close to ten times longer than any marginally-effective Gen 1 unit.

NIGHT VISION UNITS AVAILABLE AT ONE SOURCE TACTICAL

Operation "Colorado Freedom"

We will show the socialists in Colorado that their oppressive laws on the people of Colorado are totally irrelevant by flooding the state with High Capacity
Magazines right under coming the New Iron Curtain in July.

We have sets of Magazines available to Colorado residents. These will ONLY be sold to residents of Colorado at the reduced rates, and only shipped to civilian Colorado addresses. We will not sell them to any official agency in the state, nor to any gun stores or dealers.

Freedom for Colorado - One Magazine At A Time

Behind The Lines In Colorado

We received the tragic news that the state of Colorado had gone over to the dark side and embraced the ways of Mordor. For an entire day we have been reading debates and rhetoric. Our good friends at MagPul are fighting and will leave the state if they need to. We congratulate them on their choice and we will continue to support them via the sales and endorsement of their products.

Nonetheless, The Suarez Group wanted to...needed to do, something to show solidarity with those stuck behind the lines in Colorado. Although we do not have the resources of larger companies, we want to do something notable.

We will show the socialists in Colorado that their oppressive laws on the people of Colorado are totally irrelevant by flooding the state with High Capacity M4 Assault Rifle Magazines before they close and lock the gates to the New Iron Curtain.

We have sets of ten (10) TSD Combat Systems M4 Magazines. These will only be sold to residents of Colorado at reduced rates, and only shipped to civilian Colorado addresses. We will not sell them to any official agency in the state, nor to any gun stores or dealers.

I know many want these magazines, but our beleaguered brothers need these more than we do.

www.onesourcetactical.com

Zeroing The M4

A discussion about zeroing the M4 will get as heated as which type of motorcycle is best...or what religion will get you saved soonest. Nonetheless, here we go.

The first thing to consider is what are you trying to hit? A zero suitable for hitting clay birds on a hillside at distance may not be the best one for hitting men. And one for hitting men in a close urban area may be different than one for hitting then way across the canyon. We need to consider two things. One consideration is what is the actual target zone, and the other is what can you see of it?

Our focus here is personal combat so the target is a man. Simple enough. Although others may disagree a man has two distinct target zones connected in the middle. Think face and chest, with a connecting zone at the neck. Nobody teaches shooting at the neck because if you do that you may as well shoot them in the face, but take it from me...shooting a man in the neck - even accidentally - will close the festivities very quickly.

So lets say the face is a 5" circle sized zone...more or less. The chest, frontally, is about a 10" by 18" rectangle...again, more or less. The neck area being a shape sized the same as the face connecting the two. Any hit there with a centerfire rifle will be pretty good. The closer to the centerline, the better.

Now, how well can you see that target and its "impact zone"? A target on the range, standing there mocking you with its willie waving in the breeze is one thing. A man hiding behind something exposing only a part of himself is quite another. As well, distance plays a part. In Guerrilla Sniper we do a segment on target visibility. The more a man gets to 300 yards and beyond, the more difficult he is to see with the eye...even on a flat and cleared range. If he takes a knee, he is lost at 400. If he goes prone, he is invisible past 400. Its not that you can't see "something" it is that you may not discern it as a target, and secondly, your sight may not be sufficient to align your rifle on it.

Remember the discussions on the "assault rifle" concept, and how the Germans wanted to be able to hit well out to 300 or so. This is why. For this discussion we will contain it to the red dot type of sight...like an Aimpoint T-1.

A rifle with an ACOG with BDC, or a Mil-Dot will require different issues. Now we are also assuming that you are adequate to the task of shooting and there are no fundamental issues that would preclude you hitting as long as you are zeroed. Perhaps an optimistic assumption, but we move on regardless.

Your zero should be such that you can hit a face within 100 yards, and a body out to say 300 yards (maybe out to 350) quickly and without much concerns about hold over-under. That means that if you see an enemy at ten yards, you put the dot on his face and press...in a second or less. If you see him at 25 yards...same thing. If you see him at 100 yards, you can reactively hit him in the chest...or proactively (since you have a bit more time) in the face. Then as the distance grows, you can see the threat, put the dot on his chest, and press off the shot, hitting him in the target zone, without need for any concerns other than the act itself.

There are four zero ranges that are commonly used and their adherents defend their position like a sexual preference. These are the 25 yard zero, the 36 yard zero, the 50 yard zero, and the 100 yard zero. 

These have been named for the first point of coincidence of the line of sight and path of the bullet without getting into a lengthy and tiresome discussion about external ballistics. These zeroes all have two points where the bullet will intersect the line of sight. A close coincidence, in the case of the 50 yard zero...at 50 yards...and a farther coincidence...in this example, 200 yards. The trick is to keep the highest part of that path of travel as close to the target zone of the man as possible. All except the 100 yard zero have two coincident points.

All drops mentioned are approximations.

The 25 yard zero is popular in mass military and police training as it is easy to get guys zeroed and ranges are usually limited. The 25 yard zero will be on at 25, and rise to a height of over 9 inches at 200 yards. Guys will have to know the distances accurately as well as the hold overs to hit a fleeting target past CQB range. For a short barreled rifle like a MK18, Colt Commando type, that may be fine, but if anything is expected past 50 yards, this may not be the best option.

The 36 yard zero is favored by the US Marines. Those gents can shoot and this zero is well thought out. A 36 yard zero will be on at 36 yards, and slightly low inside of that due to sight offset. But it will stay inside of 5" all the way out to 300 yards and then drop 5 inches at 350 and about 13 inches at 400 yards.

The 50 yard zero will be 1.5" low at 25, zero at 50, and hold within 4 inches high or low out to
250 yards. At 300 it is already about 6.5" low and at 21 inches low at 400 yards.

The 100 yard zero seem to have gained some popularity lately and it is a good zero, holding low 5.75 inches at 250, but drops hard beyond that. At 350 it is a foot and a half low. With a scope equipped with a caliber specific-BDC, I would follow their directions to use the BDC. An ACOG TA01 for example, lets you hit out past 700...if you zero at 100.

Look guys...the idea is not range convenience, but rather to be able to hold center, with little or no holdover issues for the distance at which one anticipates use. With an assault rifle...which the M4 is, that should go out to 350-400 yards.

I am looking at thoracic cavity hits as the target zone. I want to be able to hold center at all distances and hit w/o needing to determine what range we are at. I think it is easy to determine close enough - too far away, much more than 200 or 350?

AND....it goes without saying that zeroing at 36 and calling it good is emphatically NOT what we are saying. Zero at 36, but verify at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450. Proper zeroing will take an entire afternoon, and not just a few rounds once.

For a general purpose M4 assault rifle, one that may be tasked for CQB surgery as well as engaging adversaries out at intermediate distances, and equipped with a red dot, I believe the 36 yard zero to offer the best return on investment with the least drama. Try it out on a ballistic calculator with your load and then take it to the range and tell me what you think.

Told ya it would controversial.

THE ZURICH WEDGE

THE SIG 556 ZURICH WEDGE (Patent Pending)

The SIG 550 Series of rifles is a blending of modern western manufacturing and engineering with the old world simplicity of Kalashnikov's design. The SIG retains the reliability that the AK-47 is famous for, but offers refinement and accuracy standards only seen in Western European weapons.

That notwithstanding, many of our students and customers have noted a looseness in the upper and lower receivers. While it is known that such tolerances are there to enhance reliability, it would be welcome if there was a way to increase the tightness between the receiver halves without affecting reliability. Some notable designers have postulated that such a uniform tension would increase accuracy.

That practice is common in the M4 world where worn receivers will the tightened up with polymer or rubber wedges. The only issue with these is that under adverse conditions they have been known
to break apart, possibily malfunctioning the weapon. Enter the Zurich Wedge.

The Zurich Wedge was designed for friends of ours who are members of a European Special Unit using the SIG rifles in a CT role. The Zurich Wedge is manufactured from heat treated spring steel
and when installed, will create a uniform tension between upper and lower receivers, providing a rock solid rattle free stability without affecting reliability in any way. The Zurich Wedge is installed under the Pistol Grip screw with the "T" to the rear. When in place, and the rear pivot pin is pressed
into place, the receiver halves will be locked up tighter than a swiss safe.

As far as accuracy enhancement, that has as much to do with the ammo and the shooter, but in our test rifles, both SIG 556Rs, we noted a reduction in group size by .15" in one rifle and .25" in another. If you are running a SIG 556, the Zurich Wedge is an essential addition.

BUY IT HERE

 

The PTR91GI: Enhancements and Accuracy

By Chris Upchurch, Director of Marketing

Back in September I wrote about my PTR91 GI in its stock configuration. Since then, I’ve made a few modifications. I sent the rifle out to Investment Grade Firearms to have them weld a rail to the top of the receiver for mounting optics and install a paddle magazine release to bring it into line with the G3 design.

They really did an excellent job with this. It truly looks like the rifle came from the factory this way. The paddle mag release makes magazine changes a lot easier, particularly for those of us with lots of experience running the AK system. It’s definitely a must-have upgrade.

I also added up a Magpul PRS G3 Sniper stock. This provides a lot of adjustability in terms of length of pull and cheekweld. It does add a fair bit of weight to the rifle, so this is something I’d only really recommend for a DMR or GS type role. Thankfully, the HK platform is very modular. You can swap stocks in a few seconds by popping out a pair of pins, so it’s easy to go from a battle rifle configuration to a DMR and back. To complement the stock I picked up a wide HK handguard and the integrated bipod.  I also swapped out the stock flash hider for an AAC Blackout that will (eventually) mount a suppressor.

I still don’t have a dedicated optic for this rifle, but Gabe was kind enough to let me borrow one of his ACOGs, the battery powered TA02. This optic has a .223 BDC rather than .308, but the BDC wasn’t really necessary for what I wanted to use it for: putting the rifle’s accuracy to the test.

Out at the range I backed up to 100 yards and deployed the HK bipod. It was very solid when loaded up. Add a rear bag and the rifle was extremely steady. I got a rough zero with some Prvi Partizan 147 grain ball. Groups with the Prvi ball were decent, but not spectacular, about 3“. With a rough zero in place, I went to work with the match ammo. I got everything dialed in with some Hornady 168 grain A-MAX match ammunition. With this ammo the rifle consistently shot between 1” and 1.25" 5 round groups.

Now the caveats: to do this you need good ammo, a good optic, a good optic mount, and a good shooter. My rifle really likes the 168gr AMAX load. I also tried some Hornady Steel Match and 175 grain Prvi Match ammo. Neither of them shot quite as well as the AMAX, but they were substantially better than the ball. The ACOG is a great all-around optic and would make a good Universal Rifle optic for the PTR. 4x certainly suffices for a demonstration like this, though it might not be enough to fully exploit the accuracy this rifle provides at longer distances. Having a rail welded onto the rifle by Investment Grade Firearms is really the way to go. It’s rock solid and perfectly aligned, I think it’s a far better choice than any of the other options. As far as the shooter, I can lay claim to being pretty decent, and shooting from a bipod and a rear bag eliminates a lot of imperfections.

Overall, I’m quite pleased with this rifle. A reliable semi-auto that shoots 1.25 MOA is nothing to sneeze at. This is more than enough accuracy to get minute of man out to the ballistic limits of the .308 cartridge. I’m looking forward to the Guerrilla Sniper class next spring so I can take this rifle out and shoot it at some extended ranges.

Video of the SIG 556R from 400 to 700 Yards

 

Mobile users see video.suarezinternational.com

FS2000 Video Part 4: Vehicle Operations

 

Mobile users see video.suarezinternational.com

FS2000 Video Part 3: Movement and Partial Transfers

 

Mobile users see video.suarezinternational.com

FS2000 Video Part 2: Forward Ejection and Unique Characteristics

 

Mobile users see video.suarezinternational.com

FS2000 Video Part 1: Controls and Manual of Arms

 

Mobile users see video.suarezinternational.com

My Impressions of The FS-2000

We have been talking about this rifle for a while and now I want to do a proper article on it in the same form as I did the 556R.  We ordered one of these rifles for a student and got a second one for T&E.  I know when I first looked at the rifle it looked very unusual.  Those looks have been the source of ridicule by "the ignorant" on the internet to whom anything not a version of the M4 is some sort of curiosity. But as soon as I began working with the rifle, from learning its manual of arms to running it through our rifle drills, I saw its serious benefits.

A trait shared by all other bullpup rifles, the FS2000 is short.  It is as short as an SBR rifle, and its balance is directly at the pistol grip.  Unlike other rifles, this salient point makes the rifle fast.  The unusual balance is yet another cause of derision by the uninformed, yet its balance is one of the greatest assets it brings to the fight.  In fact, I will say that the FS2000 is much quicker into action than any other rifle we have worked with, including the SIG and V-93 series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The manipulations are quite simple.  Simpler than even the AK as a matter of fact.  The bolt manipulation is reminiscent of the old HK "Legacy Weapons", the MP5 and HK53.  The non-reciprocating bolt handle is pulled back and either released into battery, or locked back in a recess like the MP5. I have found myself using the HK manual of arms more and more with this rifle. More on that later.

The safety mechanism could not be simpler.  It is ambidextrous, positive, and more conveniently located than any other rifle system, except perhaps the AUG. Magazine insertion and extraction is simple as well.  Grab the magazine and pull it out.  there is a button that must be depressed to extract it, but that is naturally taken care of grabbing the magazine.  To insert the magazine, sim0ple insert hard and tug to ascertain seating. This magazine operation has been a point of contention with the bullet golfers that like to leave a hansel-and-gretel trail of magazines on the range.  For those with less sporting points of view, the rifle encourages retention of spent magazines...just like the AK system.

The FS will not accept any polymer magazines.  No P-mags, no Lancers, Troys, or even TSD Magazines.  Is this a worthwhile trade-off?

Well, take it from one who has spent the equivalent cost of a nice suburban house making and marketuing his own branded magazine...the need to use metal GI magazines is definitely NOT a deal breaker given the advantages of the system. 

We have been using either standard "New" GI magazines or the excellent DSG Arms teflon coated magazines.

The trigger is fine for a military rifle and was actually better than the stock triggers on many of our Colt 6920s and SIG M400 rifles in inventory.  It is very much like a Glock trigger and only a problem if one is looking for reasons to dismiss the rifle.  With the stock OEM trigger I was able to hit a steel IPSC silohuette repeatedly at 500 yards. Can it be improved?  certainly it can.  We added one of those neu-trigger units and that lowered the perceived weight considerably.  The Neu-Trigger group is quite anachronistic about doing business, not having a proper online store and not being able to accept payment in any other way than a postal money order. Regardless, we muddled through and obtained some samples of his product.  There is a company that could make a fortune if it stepped into the 21st century. 

The OEM handguard is fine, but we have determined that a bullpup rifle benefits greatly from a VFG. This makes a very maneuverable rifle even more so.  To that end we obtained an FN handguard and added a Magpul VFG.  The OEM handguard is heavy and obvious its original intent was to mount a grenade launcher.  I suspect that inevitably, an after-market handguard will be available.

On my original FS2000 (I have three now) I had an ACOG 3X calibrated for .308.  Having a 1:7 barrel, I can run 75 grain bullets with a similar ballistic curve as a 7.62x51. Alternatively, I can remove that ACOG from the Picatinny rail and replace it with an Aimpoint T-1 or Trijicon SRS for use as a CQB weapon.  Similarly, I can replace the 75 grain ammo filled magazine with one loaded with more expansive or frangible ammo for the indoors application.

This last month we conducted an SMG class in Prescott and found several Bullpups in attendance.  Having to loan out both of my SMGs, I used my Steyr AUG and FS-2000.  I will discuss the AUG in a seperate article very soon.

In running our various movement and point shooting drills, many of us found the FS-2000 to be as fast as the SMG.  Roger Phillips noted that it handles far more like a big pistol than a small rifle.  It can be run single handed in an emergency problem without undue strain on the operator, yet just as easily move back into rifle realm for long or extremely precise shots.

And then Chambers and Nichols, two of our former US Army staff  instructors conducted their Vehicle Operations lecture, we immediately saw the advantages of the bullpup inside and immediately outside a motor vehicle. As Nichols noted, firing a centerfire rifle inside a car is like a knife fight in a phonebooth as the expended hot cases fly everywhere.  Not so with the FS's forward ejection.  The fired cases dribble out under control and substantially cooler than "fresh from the chamber". As well the fast handling and short length allow for some immediate action on any point on the clock while seated...almost instantly.

One interesting attribute of the rifle which I will leave for you to ponder is that one can fire up to five rounds without a single fired case being ejected from the weapon.  One attendee noted that such a thing would have been very beneficial to certain dark ops when deployed with frangible ammunition.

All in all, I am quite impressed with the Bullpup concept and the FS-2000 in particular.  As we progress into 2013, I suspect we will be doing similar write ups on the Steyr AUG, the Tavor, and the FN P-90.  I am not about to sell anything off, but for now, the rifle I find myself training with the most seems to be the FS2000.   

FNH FS2000 BLACK CARBINE PACKAGE - WITH FIVE MAGAZINES

MSRP: $2,779.99

OneSource Price: $1,965.00

You Save: $814.99 (29 %)

IN STOCK NOW!!

HK Platform Modularity

When you talk about modularity in a rifle, most people think of the AR platform, or perhaps one of the newer rifles like a SCAR or XCR.  The HK G3 was modular before it was cool.  In some ways it still outpaces any of its more recent rivals.

For instance, you can go from this:

 

To this:

In under a minute, without any tools.  

Changing the furniture on the PTR and other HK-style rifles is easy.  To remove the stock, all you have to do is pop out the two pins at the back of the receiver and slide the stock off.  If you have a second stock with backplate, buffer, and recoil assembly already attached, just slide it in and drive the pins home.

 

To change out the front handguard, just remove the pin right behind the front sight assembly, slide the handguard forward slightly and pull down in the front.

 

 

The HK rifles also allow you to change out the trigger group and pistol grip.  With the stock off, just pivot the pistol grip downard and pull it off.  If you don't want to carry around an entire extra trigger housing and pistol grip you can also easily remove the trigger pack itself from the housing (with the trigger group removed from the rifle, rotate the safety up past the safe position and pull it out to the left, then lift the trigger pack out of the housing).

The ability to change all of these components offers some interesting possibilities.  For instance, you could go from a battle rifle with a slim handguard, folding stock, and fighting rifle trigger to a GSR/DMR with an adjustable stock, bipod equipped handguard, and match trigger as the situation warrants.  All these possible combinations make an HK-style rifle like the PTR91 a tool of considerable versatility.

Weapon Concept - The Personal Defense Weapon

After some of the work we did at the Submachinegun Gunfighting Class I wanted to revisit the discussion of the PDW. 

Sometimes things get confused due to the meaning of words being different for one man than for another.  It is easy for a modern day Jeremiah Johnson living in the middle of nowhere Alaska to point to his full sized G3 as his PDW, but that is not what we are working with here. 

What we are discussing in this article is typified by the UZI SMG or the FN P90 type of weapon.  It is a weapon that is as compact as possible so it can be carried with some discretion in any urban environment.  It would be suitable for work inside a house, as well as for work out to 200 yards. 

There may be a need for some compromise in these areas but we will see about that.  It would allow for eye socket accuracy inside a house, as well as have enough power to overcome armor, cover, or minor vegetation. It would provide greater speed, rapidity of fire, and accuracy than would be found with a typical service pistol.

First, we will discuss the weapon itself.  The PDW Concept, or Advanced Personal Defense Weapon, was first officially discussed in 1986.  The United States Army Infantry School based at Fort Benning issued the reference document Smalls Arms Strategy 2000, which defines the APDW (Advanced Personal Defense Weapon). The earliest weapon marketed as PDWs was the Heckler & Koch MP5K-PDW.

The PDW is intended as a non-combatant's weapon.  In other words, it is not something with which one goes and picks a fight.  Rather, it is something with which one gets away from a fight.  Similar weapons have been developed in the past for support personnel, such as the M1 Carbine.  That such weapons have attributes that lend them to the used in special functions is often ignored. 

The PDW is defined as a compact semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm similar in most respects to a submachine gun, but firing a rifle round, thereby giving a PDW better range, accuracy and armor-penetrating capability than submachine guns. The class of weapon as it exists today evolved as a hybrid between a submachine gun and an assault rifle, retaining the compact size and ammunition capacity of the former while adding the ammunition power, accuracy and penetration of the latter. PDW are often seen in proprietary calibers such as the FN 5.7x28.

The P90 in 5.7x28 is truly a hybrid weapon that bridges the gap between the SMG and the Assault Rifle.  There are those that want to argue the point about the validity of the 5.7x28 round as hard as the modern technique guys want to argue against the Glock in 9mm. Suffice to say that if they think so poorly about the 5.7, they should simply allow a P90 shooter to shoot them two or three times in the chest and then comment on the results.  Moving on.

The P90 is exceedingly compact in its civilian form and if one pursues the SBR road he will end up with something that has little competition in the civilian market.

I spent some time with the P90 in South America and I must say having such a weapon at one's side in an urban environment would only make a fool feel outgunned. The P90 cannot reach or penetrate as well as a full sized rifle round such as a 5.56, nor is it as quiet as a 9mm out of an UZI, but it does much of the PDW role quite well.

The submachinegun, in semi auto or selective fire, has been a point of our study for some time now.  Teaching our first class in SMG verified many of our assumptions about the weapon. 

Whether it is an UZI, an MP5, a Beretta Storm...or even a Swedish K, it can be run like a big handgun rather than as a small rifle.  It is extremely fast to bring into action, scary accurate when using the correct ammunition, and as easy to carry as a laptop.  Staffers John Chambers and JD Lester gave us some demonstrations of bagged SMG deployment that amazed us.

There are several things however, that the SMG is not great at.  One is distance.  While we had the class hitting steel at 200 yards with their UZIs (yes...200 yards), the impact of a 9mm out there would not be conclusive.  Two is penetration.  And by penetration I am discussing ammunition similar to what one would carry in a CCW handgun, not the FMJ one uses for training on the range. The 9mm will not penetrate armor worn by bad guys.  Is that an issue?  Maybe. One member at Warrior Talk correctly noted that hard plate armor is very common now making even a 5.56 ineffective against it, thus head shots should be the order of the day regardless.  It's hard to argue that point and head shots are easy with an SMG. Third is that unless one goes the SBR/NFA route, a semi auto SMG is as long as anything else.  Nonetheless, there are many who will have an SMG by the bed as an immediately accessible PDW.

Finally we look at the rifle as a PDW.  A full length rifle is a poor choice for this role simply due to its size.  Remember that a PDW is intended in this context as an urban weapon, and must be of a size that it can be commonly taken along discreetly. Such a thing is difficult with a rifle unless it has both a folding stock and a shorter-than-standard barrel.  An SBR rifle can work well, but has the drawback of a lessened ballistic effect due to the shorter barrel coupled with the exceedingly loud muzzle blast and report.  You have no idea of the magnitude of this unless you have fired a short rifle with unprotected ears inside a house in the middle of the night.  As well, not everyone has the ability nor desire to go the NFA route, and for them, the short rifle will not be a choice.

Those issues are what drew us to the bullpup rifle as a study project. The bullpup is as short as a short rifle with stock extended, or a full sized rifle with stock folded. Keeping a full length rifle (16" in the AUG and 17.5" in the FS2000) they wind their way past the NFA requirements and legal anyplace the typical assault rifle is legal. Balanced like a submachinegun, they are almost as fast as something like an MP5 or UZI, a fact we demonstrated repeatedly at the class. And firing a rifle cartridge, can reach out as far as one can see an adversary, penetrate anything which may need penetration (within reason), and yet stalk through a house, or in a vehicle with the fluidity of an MP5. The only problem we could see with this is that it's advantages are also its disadvantages...just like the SMG.  Its cartridge will not suffice for SMG problems anymore than an SMG will suffice for rifle problems.

Like most other things in life, there is no "single best answer".  The SMG and the Bullpup are far
more similar than different.  The only distinguishing issue is the caliber.  If you believe you will need more rifle than SMG, yet still want a PDW weapon, the Bullpup is the best choice based on what I have seen.  On the other hand, if you perceive less rifle needs and more SMG needs, the simple choice is the SMG. A thorough and honest evaluation of your AO as well as likely patterns of encounter should be done before choosing.  In the land of the pistol, the SMG is the king.  But in the land of the rifle, the SMG is a janitor.

One very capable man in the recent class said this.  "By my bed is an SBR'd UZI with 50 rounds in an L-clip. But in my car is a Steyr AUG". 

 

 

The Bullpup And The SMG

This last weekend we conducted the SMG Gunfighting Class at the tail end of our yearly corporate staff meeting and in-service training.  We had 20 Suarez Staff Instructors involved in teaching the class.  When you get a group of minds like this together, all looking at the same concept, amazing discoveries are made.

One of these paradigm shifts was the application of many of the Bullpup rifles we had in attendance.  We had several FN FS2000s in various configs., we had one FN P-90, and a couple of Steyr AUGs (one SBR and one standard length). Anyone that disdains the bullpup or its combat application is foolishly ignorant of the weapon's capabilities.

The Bullpup bridges the worlds of the very compact SMG and the more powerful assault rifle.  It is as short as an SBR without any need for NFA documentation, can be shot like a handgun, yet reaches and penetrates like a rifle, and is unparalleled in the ultra-close range dynamic CQB environments of vehicular combat and any confined spaces. We developed some very interesting material for this rifle.  Think "evolutionary" rather than revolutionary. More to follow very soon.

 

Equipping The Insurgent - Battle Belt Load Bearing Kit

I am often asked what is the best "gear", and what a student should get.  The answer of course, depends on many things.  In this instance we will discuss methods of carrying personal fighting gear in the field.  Specifically that which supports your primary weapon, and immediate survival such magazines, secondary weapons, first aid, survival gear, etc. Some call this "second line" gear.  "First line" gear would be what you carry in your pockets for example.

While first line gear can be a constant and is not dependant on environment, second line gear is very much situational.  Consider three circumastances that while similar, have stark contrasts.

1).  Operating in an urban area, mounted or on foot, in a low profile/covert manner. This is typified by the "sneaky bag" type bags and folding stocked SBRs.

2). Operating in a rural area - out of a vehicle with very limited "boots on the ground" time.  This is what you see in news footage of US and NATO troops, as well as the typical American SWAT unit. Here you will see some sort of chest rig or tactical vest unit with or without armor (usually with). 

3). Operating in a rural area - on foot with extended "boots on the ground" time. Images of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and US troops in Vietman come immediately to mind. Gear here is centered around an "Alice" type, or Battle Belt type of carry.

There are variations on this theme of course but we will keep the discussion to these three lest we lose track of the point of the discussion.

Equipment specially sourced for a specific one of these situations can be pressed into service in other environments, but not as well as more specialized kit. For example, a "sneaky" type bag and an SBR-SMG shine in the covert urban world, but would be unsatisfactory in an environment requiring extensive hiking or running and the need for a rifle. Similarly a chest rig may be great for riding around in a Hummer, but not feel as good when one must walk ten miles with their gear.  Compromises can be made of course, but they are just that...compromises.  And all compromises lead to lessened performance.  

We have written extensively about the covert bags.  I currently use such a bag in its "Terrorist Interdiction Bag" form. But this does not work well for field use awy from the urban world.  Again, the covert bag is a compromise for covertness, and not efficiency or load carrying.  At warriortalk we have also discussed the very popular chest rig.  If most of the time is to be spent in a vehicle, the chest rig is great.  But it will be found lacking on a several miles long march through rocks and trees.

We will discuss the "Battle Belt", or "War Belt".  This has its lineage in the old G.I. LBE circa 1956. It revolves around a belt that carries most of the important gear, aided by suspenders to share the load.  Any additional kit is carried in a rucksack. The main advantage of this over other forms of carry is that, sitting lower on the hips, it tends to be more balanced and the end-user can configure it to his needs easier than a chest rig.

One complaint of the Battle Belt is that it is not as comfortable in vehicle mounted operations.  The counter is that a chest rig is not as comfortable in dismounted operations.  In the end, each man must choose what area must take precedence over the other.

This is the rig I have been using for the past two years.  I have run it in every rifle or tactics class as well as in my desert training runs.  It is simple, light, and when coupled with a suitably sized ruck sack, quite balanced and functional.

It is based on the High Speed Gear Suregrip Belt coupled with a set of HSGI Suspenders, and carries three "Double Tacos" on the left side with both rifle and pistol magazines, and one "Taco" on the right side for an additional support side reload.

The belt also carries a knife.  In this case the Swiss SIG Bayonet, although any knife can be used. I also use the TSD Combat Systems/Blade-Tech Holster.  On the right and left kidney area I have a Blow Out Kit in a HSGI pouch, and a Field Survival Kit in a similar HSGI pouch.  At the six o'clock, I have an old style HSGI Dump Pouch.  They have redesigned it as the HSGI Mag Net and made it better.

If you want a short cut to a really good War Belt based LBE, this is what I would suggest.

 

 

 

 

 

Hands on with the FS2000

by Chris Upchurch, Suarez International Director of Marketing

I have to admit, it took a while for me to really warm up to the FS2000. When one came in for Gabe back in August, my first thought was ‘wow, what a space-gun looking thing’. I handled it a bit and it seemed very odd and unfamiliar. It just has such a different layout and different controls that it was way outside my previous experience. As much as we make of the difference between, say, an AK and and AR, they both use basically the same layout. By comparison a bullpup, particularly one like the FS2000, is pretty out there.

A few weeks after my initial encounter with the FS2000 we were out shooting some video on the SIG 556 rifles. Gabe also brought along his FS2000 and I had a chance to shoot it. It still seemed a bit strange, but I have to say it shot nicely and handled well. Gabe was pretty enthusiastic about the rifle. This really made me take another look at the concept.

Towards the end of September we got some FS2000s in stock at OST. I’d been thinking more and more about it, and Tom made me a pretty good deal on it, so I decided to buy one. At this point I was thinking that this would be a bit of a specialty rifle for things like CQB and vehicle operations where its short overall length would really be an advantage.

That weekend was the Guerrilla Sniper II class. Gabe brought his FS2000 along, topped with an ACOG and fed some 75 grain match ammo. Using this configuration both he and I got hits out to 500 yards. This using a rifle that’s shorter than many SBRs. At this point I was starting to broaden my thinking about this little rifle and appreciate its capabilities.

The following Monday, I picked up my own FS2000. Shooting it would have to wait a bit until I picked up some .223 ammunition, but I immediately began doing some dry work with it.

While the obvious feature of a bullpup is it’s short overall length, the thing that really grabs you when you pick up an FS2000 is how well balanced it is. It balances right at the handgrip, making it exceedingly easy to shift it from shoulder to shoulder. You can even shoulder the FS2000 one handed, which really opens up some interesting possibilities when getting off the X.

The FS2000 is very compact. Despite having a 17.4“ barrel, it’s roughly the same length as a SBR with a 10” barrel. This makes it exceedingly well suited to CQB, vehicular operations, and other situations involving confined spaces. I’ve practiced clearing my house several times with the FS2000, something it is exceedingly well suited for. It has the capabilities of an SBR, without all the NFA paperwork. In tight places that are a problem for a full length rifle it eliminates the difficulty. I’ve also played with this a bit from the inside of my car. It’s manageable even in a mid-size sedan. 

Despite it’s rather different control setup, conceptually the FS2000 runs much like the AK. To load, mag in, run the bolt (make sure you give the mag a tug to ensure it’s seated). There is no last-round bolt hold-open, so you’ll get a click instead of a bang when the mag runs dry. Mag out (just hit the mag release with the top of your index finger as you grab the mag) new mag in, run the bolt.

One of the most important things that training with (and teaching for) Suarez International has taught me is the vital importance of complete ambidexterity. It’s gotten to a point where not being able to run a weapon on either side is really a deal breaker for me. Most bullpup systems don’t work particularly well from the support side shoulder. There are ways to adapt to this, but they’re not really what you’d call optimal. The FS2000 is an exception to the general rule. With it’s forward ejection system, it works equally well from either side.

The charging handle is on the left side, so it’s very easy to run when you’re shooting from the right shoulder. Running it on the left shoulder is no problem, it’s like a mirror image of how we run the AK charging handle. The mag release is located just forward of the magwell and is completely ambidextrous. The magwell location takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, mag changes are very natural. The bottom inch or so of the magwell is beveled into a funnel, making it very easy to guide a mag in.

Perhaps the most unusual of the controls is the safety. It’s a plate at the base of the trigger that pivots right and left. The design is rather clever, allowing you to push or pull from either side. To take the rifle off safe, you push with your right finger or pull with your left. To put the safety back on, pull with the right or push with the left. This definitely does take some getting used to.

One change I made to the rifle was to substitute a tri-rail handguard for the plastic handguard that comes with the gun. One of the big reasons I did this was to allow for a light mount. I intend to use this as a house gun (among other things) and in this role a rifle really needs a light. The railed handguard also allows for a vertical foregrip. On most conventional rifles I’m not a big fan of the VFG, because of the way it interferes with the floating support hand. On the FS2000, however, there’s really only one place your hand can go, given the short fore-end. Since the FS2000 doesn’t have a magwell in front of the handgrip, the VFG effectively replaces it in some of our weapon manipulations.

With a big pile of ammo in-hand I headed out to the range to put this rifle through its paces. I didn’t have an optic on the rifle yet, so I was working with the iron sights. It comes with a picatinny rail mounted front sight and a small flip-up rear. I shot at 100 yards and found I was a couple of inches high, so I figured it was zeroed at a closer distance. When I stepped up to 50, everything was dead on, no adjustments necessary.

The flip-up rear sight is definitely intended only as a back up. With it’s full picatinny rail this is a rifle that’s clearly intended to run an optic. While it’s performance at the GS class clearly shows this gun is capable of reaching out quite a ways, it’s mainly going to be a CQB gun for me, so I’d decided to mount a red dot on it. I had an Aimpoint Micro lying round, which I teamed up with an American Defense QD mount. This arrangement provides a cowitness with the back-up irons just below the center of the optic. I prefer this kind of optic mounted forward, so I put it just behind the front sight (Gabe, on the other hand, prefers it mounted to the rear, and on pictures of his rifle you’ll see it mounted just in front of the rear sight).

Moving up to about 5 yards, went to work on some point shooting. The front sight assembly works well for Caveman EOTech, and the picatinny rail provides a nice reference point for shooting while looking over the top of the gun. Where it really gets interesting is when you rotate the gun over about 30 degrees. The edge of the receiver is a nice straight line running parallel to the bore. It makes an excellent aiming rail, similar to aiming down the edge of the slide with a handgun. This is particularly nice since the gun tends to roll over like this when shooting one handed. It also provides a great point shooting reference when the top rail is occupied by an optic. In a way, it’s kind of like the offset optic mounts some gun gamers use on their rifles, except these are ambidextrous. The FS2000 is exceptionally well suited to point shooting.

Combine this point shooting ability, excellent balance, and ambidexterity and I think the FS2000 may be the ultimate rifle for the SI close-range rifle curriculum. It handles GOTX angles that are challenging for other rifles with ease. When getting off the X on the rearward lines (5 o’clock and 7 o’clock), it’s easy to roll the rifle over a bit and shoot at some pretty extreme angles. Taking the forward angle on the support side, the gun is so well balanced that you can fire the first few shots one handed with the stock on your primary side shoulder. As the angle gets more extreme, the excellent balance makes this one of the easiest guns to swap shoulders with. I can’t wait to take this gun to Roger Phillips Long Gun Point Shooting Progressions class. I think it may be the ultimate LGPSP gun.

Given its short overall length, the FS2000 really shines in confined spaces, like buildings and vehicles. That said, unlike an SBR this is not just a specialized CQB tool. As Gabe and I proved at the GS class, the FS2000 can do anything a full size 5.56mm rifle can do, including reaching out to extended ranges. This is an extremely versatile rifle, capable of filling a lot of different roles.

 

BUY FS-2000 WITH TEN MAGAZINES AT ONE SOURCE - SHIPS IMMEDIATELY

 

 

FIELD RIFLE POSITIONS - STANDING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you can avoid taking a crucial shot from standing, do so.  It is the least accurate position.  Nonetheless, it should be the most trained for that very reason, and because when the shot must be taken right now, as in the snap shot, the standing will be the only one you can use fast enough. And by fast enough I am not referring to a CQB shooting but rather a shot at someone 100 yards away.

The goal here is not recoil control, or tight arc of target traverse, but rather seeking as much stability as possible for the shot under a self-imposed time interval. If you have time, you generally have other things you can do.  The support hand does not grasp the handguard...it cradles it, allowing for as much bone support as possible.

Here is a perfect Standing Offhand Position by Suarez Staff Instructor Eric Pfleger.  Eric is shown taking shots at 1000 yards on an IPSC steel silohuette.  He did this at a Guerrilla Sniper class not just once, but a number of times in succession.  Notice his position - relaxed, bone support emphasized. 

If there is time, using support for the standing is recommended.  This can range from a vertical support to a shooting partner, or even a shooting stick as the African hunters used.

 

FIELD RIFLE SHOOTING - KNEELING

Kneeling position is the next in our series.  It is about as accurate, all things being equal, as squatting.  Classic Kneeling is assumed as follows. You drop into a kneeling position with the leg approximately 90 degrees apart forming a right angle.  Your butt rests on the heel of your foot.  This last part is crucial, without which you may as well just stand. The bottom foot maybe flat, or on the toe as the situation requires. The forward arm is bent and the triceps just above the elbow rests on the knee.

An interesting attribute of kneeling is the ability to adapt to high or low angle shots.  Although this is something rarely done on flat range training venues, we shoot at all angles and distances and even have a training site where we can suspend steel targets from a cliff so we can shoot at rising angles as well as declining angles.

Two areas will affect this.  One is the hand position of the fore end.  Farther out will decrese the angle while closer in to the magazine will increase it.  As well the bottom foot can be articulated from "on the toe" to "on the flat", or even to a pseudo-sitting to raise the angle of the shot.