WARRIOR TALK NEWS

TEXAS WEAPON SYSTEMS KALASHNIKOV HANDGUARD

We had done a few "tail checks" before I saw the items in Rafaga's backpack. The best way to describe the floor at SHOT comes from the words of Sir Alec Guinness playing Obi Wan Kenobi as he described the bazaar at Tatooine.

"Never has there been a more wretched hive of scum and villany".

Well...maybe not exactly like that...but the place is full of idea thieves.  Think of a "spook convention" at the height of the Cold War and you will have an idea.  It would not be a stretch to have some "eastern european businessman" or "asian entrepreneur" catch a glimpse of what I was now holding in my hands and have a knock-off made and for sale using slave labor and substandard materials before our plane touched down back in Phoenix.

Thus we took precautions.



The handguard is much more than that....it is a system, and unlike anything ever made for a Kalashnikov rifle before. It replaces the OEM gas tube with a precision made tube that is encased in the handguard chassis. Both units bolt to each other in a solid unmovable style. The lower handguard bolts to the barrel with a patented bushing design that will accommodate any thickness of barrel. The bushings also tension the barrel fore and aft, thereby improving barrel harmonics.



The handguard and top cover reach all the way to the gas block at the front totally covering both barrel and gas tube, and offering a modern and sleek high-speed look.

There are many handguards on the market these days ranging from stamped airsoft trash, to handcrafted olympic weight quality units that even Hulk Hogan would find challenging to shoulder.

The holy grail of these in the AR market for many years has been to make the rails optional and modular, and to make the units themselves as light as possible. But the AK market has gone the other way...making handguards that were so grossly oversized and overweight that they made the handy rifle into an ungainly beast.



Texas Weapon Systems has grabbed on to that holy grail and set the bar for AK rails as things stand today in early 2012. These will not be "cheap" by any definition of the word in either quality, or cost, but I do think they are the best, and the standard to which the industry will now aspire.

Available at One Source Tactical, and on TSD Combat Systems Rifles.

PRE-ORDER HERE FOR DELIVERY IN APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS

Good Deals: Spaghetti, Tactical Gear and Training



 

By Alex Nieuwland, Suarez International Staff Instructor in South Carolina

 

As many are making their spending plans for the new year, I’d like to reflect on the search for the “Good Deal”. To quote gunsmith Mark Graham: “What made you think you were getting a $1000 battle rifle for $600?” I’d say ignorance and extrapolating from other experiences (like buying groceries) is the answer to that question, therefore this article.

 

When it comes to buying groceries, I’m a value shopper. Given the choice between spaghetti in a Mueller’s box and a Great Value box, I’ll take the Great Value box. Sure, the Muller’s spaghetti comes with a whole marketing spiel on the box extolling the natural origin and wholesomeness of the box’s contents, but that’s not what I’m buying. I’m buying spaghetti. The 25% premium I save by going with the Great Value brand represents more room in my ammo budget.

 

I’d like to define the true Good Deal as follows: Solving your problem for the smallest amount of money and aggravation. A solution that doesn’t solve your problem is NOT a Good Deal.

 

Great Value spaghetti is an excellent example of a Good Deal, because I happen to know that the only difference between Mueller’s and Great Value is the box. Both were made by AIPC in the same way from the same raw materials in the same plant. I’ve visited their plant in Columbia, SC and seen it with my own eyes: The ONLY difference is the box. As soon as I take the product out of the box, which I must do in order to cook it anyway, this difference disappears. By buying the Great Value spaghetti, I have therefore solved my problem (the need for spaghetti) for the smallest amount of money.

 

As you can see from this example, when it comes to buying groceries in American supermarkets today, you can be reasonably sure that even the “value” offerings are of a reasonable quality, and you risk little by trying them. When it comes to buying tactical gear and training, however, that is not the case. I have found that being a value shopper usually does not pay off.

 

I can speak from painful personal experience on this topic. When I bought my beautiful 16” FAL carbine, I had no idea of the risk I was taking by buying a rifle from this particular maker. Looking back, it’s clear that my $600 FAL was not a Good Deal, because it did not solve my need for a working battle rifle. Sure, it’s a battle rifle, it just doesn’t work acceptably. The maker’s warranty and customer service are even less than their prices. As it stands, they won’t even tell me which parts were American-made when they shipped the rifle so I can make an informed decision on what to do with it.

  

 

It’s the inconsistency of the “lower-tier” rifle makers like this one, and their refusal to stand behind their products that make them such a risky deal. By the time I'm done completely fixing it, my $600 FAL will have cost me more than $1000, plus a whole bunch of aggravation. I could have bought a $1,000 FAL from the get go, and been done with it.

 

I find myself in a similar situation with a small .380 pistol made by a relatively new manufacturer located in Florida. It was a jam-o-matic right out of the box, and I sent it to the manufacturer to be fixed. This was not entirely unexpected. It was, after all, a small .380 pistol that has not been in production very long. What was unexpected, was that it was still jamming just as badly when I got it back. I just sent it back to the manufacturer again. Even if they end up fixing or replacing their product, by the time I’m done with it, this pistol will have cost me more money and aggravation than my Glock 26 did, and the Glock 26 worked right out of the box. I’m not alone in my experience with this company. In other words, NOT a Good Deal to solve my need for a smaller gun.

 

Another example is the ammo can I have that is full of “308 Winchester Match Grade 168 gr boat tail hollow point (factory loaded)” sold by a reloading company from Georgia. It turns my bolt-action .308 into more of an area weapon than a precision weapon. At $0.64/round it sure costs less than Hornady A-Max (at $1.23/round), but the A-Max will hit whereas the supposedly match grade bullet from Georgia may randomly miss by about a foot at 200 yards. Comparing these two options, it’s clear to everyone that the A-Max is the Good Deal, right?

 

 

Net, we can see that there is definitely a difference between buying spaghetti, and buying tactical gear.

                                                                                  

Now, let’s compare these companies and their offerings to the Suarez family of companies, and see how they stack up.

 

Last year, One Source Tactical purged their inventory of “value” offerings, focusing on higher quality (but higher price) offerings instead. I applaud them for that move, because when it comes to tactical gear it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between the “value” offering and the quality product until the “value” offering breaks or otherwise fails to live up to expectations. In this case, again, the higher quality (but higher price) offering is in fact the Good Deal because it solves your problem.

 

TSD Combat Systems is making high quality fighting gear for the well-informed, well-trained, warrior, and they stand behind their products. The Trijicon RMR sight I had TSD install on my primary Glock 19 has taken it to a whole new level. The CNC machines used by TSD guaranteed this to be a Good Deal. To get the most out of this high quality system, however, I still need to use high quality ammo.

 

As far as getting a Good Deal on your training goes, just go to Suarezinternational.com and sign up for the class that is closest to you and best solves your particular training need. Sure, you can get a day of training for less with other organizations, but their techniques either plain don’t work in a fight or don’t work as well as ours. On the other hand, you can pay more per day or travel to another school in a faraway state, and will still learn techniques that either plain don’t work in a fight or don’t work as well as ours. The proof is in the Force on Force training. I have trained at other places, and paid more per day, but it’s clear that SI training is the Good Deal when it comes to solving your training needs.

 

So, to sum it all up, if you’re getting all hot and bothered about a “sweet deal” on a lower-tier FAL, AK, AR, or G3 this year, consider the question from Mark Graham: “What makes you think you are getting a $1000 battle rifle for $600?”

 

If you’re considering signing up for a training course with Billy Bob and Mary Sue Tactical, whose heart is in the right place, but who  realistically couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag and whose only teaching credentials are from an organization with shockingly low standards, consider this question: “What makes you think you are getting $400 worth of training for $250?”

 

If you’re considering signing up for a training course by former operators from Uncle Sugar’s Space Cowboys, consider this: “What does being a Space Cowboy have to do with your daily mission to protect you and yours, and what makes you think they are going to teach the really good Space Cowboy stuff to a pesky civilian like you, anyway?”

 

As you can see, there is a difference between buying spaghetti, and buying tactical gear and training.

 

 

Upcoming Suarez International courses in Columbia, South Carolina:

South Carolina Long Gun Long Weekend II (February 3-5, 2012)

          Dynamics of the Shotgun (February 3, 2012)
          Combat Rifle Marksmanship (February 4, 2012)
          Advanced Combat Rifle Marksmanship (February 5, 2012)
Combat Pistol Marksmanship (February 11, 2012)
Close Range Gunfighting (March 17-18)
0-5 Feet Pistol Gunfighting (April 14-15, 2012)

 

Join the discussion on Warriortalk here.

TSD Combat Systems TSD-MAG15 M4 Magazine

TSD Combat Systems introduces the TSD-MAG15 M4 magazine.  The move into the magazine market was well thought out and carefully executed.  First was the magazine itself.  TSD Combat Systems, and its sister company Suarez International, has an large number of former US Military personnel on staff ranging from US Army LRS, Designated Marksmen, Special Operations, Air Force Special Operations, US Marines, and others.  These men have a great deal of experience with the M4 platform.  TSD Combat Systems assigned them to test and examine every single magazine available for the M4 rifle.  Then we used that pool of experience to determine what they wanted in an M4 magazine.  Then we made it happen by partnering with key manufacturers in the industry and having them make this magazine to TSD’s specifications.

These TSD-MAG15s have a slimmer floorplate than other polymer magazines on the market, and maintain a slimmer outer profile. This makes it easier to stack in double mag pouches.  As well, they insert cleanly and easily into the magazine well of our in-house Daniel Defense and Colt 6920, drop free without any hesitation when the mag catch is pressed, and they seat easily on a closed bolt with a full 30 rounds.

The TSD-MAG15 is a hybrid magazine that combines the best features of polymer and steel magazine designs. Unique to the TSD-MAG15 is the one piece wrap-around hardened steel feed lip assembly that is permanently attached to an impact resistant polymer body. Unlike many polymer-only feed lips, the hardened steel feed lips won’t bend, break or deform due to rough handling or long term storage. The lip on the magazine extends from front to back, from the top of the lips, down to the top of the mag latch area, which allows the magazine to sit on the catch with metal to metal contact, instead of the metal of the mag catch which has been known to gouge the polymer magazine body and cause malfunctions.

An aggressive surface texture has been applied to the polymer body to improve gripping and retrieval from pouches. The aggressive grip texture between the reinforcing ribs, allowing for more positive control on the magazines when manipulating them. The combination of steel and polymer result in a lightweight, robust magazine that is tougher and stronger than other M4 magazines on the market.

The internal geometry and non-tilting follower of the magazine is maximized to feed the 5.56X45mm round. The feed lips are made from a single piece of precision formed steel that is hardened, then PTFE coated for corrosion resistance. The body and component materials are corrosion and chemical resistant, passing military chemical testing, including exposure to DEET. The floorplate is also slimmer than other polymer magazines, maintaining a slimmer outer profile, and making it easier to use in double mag pouches. Disassembly is quite simple, using only a single round of ammo to depress the locking plate, and slide the floorplate to the rear, off the magazine body.

Moreover, unlike other polymer magazines on the market, the TSD-MAG15 is compatible with multiple modern weapon systems to include the M4/M16/AR-15 systems, the HK416, Sig 556, SCAR-L / Mk16, L85A1, and other similar and STANAG platforms. No need for a special magazine to run in these other platforms.

Material Specification

• Body Assembly: Nylon
• Feed Lips: AISI 1074 Carbon Steel, .030in thick, Hardened to RC 48 to 52.
• Floor Plate: Nylon
• Spring: Stainless steel
• Follower: Delrin
• Weight: 4.4oz

This will not be the last weapon platform for which that TSD Combat Systems will produce a magazine.  The TSD-MAG15 is only the beginning.

ON SALE NOW AT ONE SOURCE TACTICAL

Scope Reticles 101

     Which scope do you recommend? I get asked this question several times a month. I wish the answer was as simple as the question. There are several factors we should consider before making a choice. The next few questions will help clarify the proper response to the question.

     What gun is it going on? Is it a semi auto 22 or a 300 WM bull barrel target rifle? Is it a 30-30 lever gun or an AK? The type of gun and the caliber are important factors in the scope and reticle choice. What do you plan to do with the gun? Self-defense has different requirements than hunting or target shooting. What caliber is the rifle? A 22 rim fire runs out of energy past 300 yards. What are the external ballistics of the round?  How fast does it loose velocity?

     It makes no sense to put an optic designed to shoot a thousand yards on a rifle/ cartridge that is not accurate at that distance. Here is an example. The 7.62x 39 cartridge velocity is approximately 1150 fps at 500 yards; at 600 it falls below 1000 fps. Generally 1000 fps is about the speed at which rifle bullets become unstable. This instability causes the bullet to yaw and wobble. The wobble changes the flight path. Based on my experience unstable flight path can vary greatly. I am talking about variation by feet, not inches. If you add in weather and wind factors the variation is increased. So a 7.62x39 or a 30-30 would not be a good rifle for a 6-20 x 50 target scope. A 1-4 or 2-7 or a low power fixed scope would be a better choice for these calibers.

     On the other end of the spectrum is the 338 Lapua. This round at 1000 yards still has a velocity of 1680fps. This means the cartridge is accurate well past 1500 yards. Installing an Eotech red dot or a 3-9 power scope is limiting the capabilities of the cartridge. Generally speaking having 1 power of magnification per hundred yards is good if you are shooting man size targets.  If the man ducks behind cover or goes prone you may need more magnification to find and shoot this now smaller target. Higher power will also aide in range estimation. On the down side, higher power can amplify movement as the shooter moves the gun. It can also be difficult to shoot through the mirage on a high power setting.

    Now that we have the basics as to what we want to do with the gun/ammo scope combination (also called the weapon system). We can look at reticles for the scopes. There are hundreds of different reticles available for scopes. The early scopes had crosshairs and nothing else. Since the invention of crosshairs in scopes man has looked at ways to improve the basic idea by adding thicker lines or removing a portion of the crosshairs (also called stadia lines). Today scopes have 4 categories of reticles.

       Standard Reticles Fine, Crosshairs or Duplex

       Illuminated Reticles; Eotech, Aimpoint or Trijicon

       Hold Over recticles; a bullet drop compensator type

       Ranging reticles; Mil-dot or MOA hash marks

      (Combinations of 2 or more can also be found.)

 

    This article will examine standard reticles and illuminated reticles.

    The standard reticles group includes the t-post, target dot reticles. The stadia lines may be tapered or have two different widths. Standard recticles are used to zero a rifle at a specific distance. That is about as basic as it gets. The turrets on the basic scopes normally do not have numbers or revolution marks to adjust them to different zero points. They are meant to be zeroed and left alone. These types of scopes work well on rim fire and hunting rifles designed for 200 yards or less. With some practice the shooter can use them for longer shots by holding over on the target. They have no value in ranging to the target and adjusting for wind or weather changes.

     The variable power scope with a duplex type reticle can be used for ranging by using the points where the stadia line reduces from thick to thin. This method works by adjusting the magnification so that a known object will fit the reticle between the horizontal line and the point where the vertical line changes width. This requires practice and the shooter should develop a range card to record this information.

     Here is an example. Your target is a deer.  It’s size from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the belly is 18 inches. Now use the zoom to set the horizontal line on the top of the deer’s back and the point on the vertical line at his belly. Now determine the power setting. Reference this number to your range card and read the distance to target. Then you can use the hold over you established during practice to make a hit. For this to work the shooter must put in the time to gather the information and build the range card. This same principal works for many different types or styles of reticles.

    The newest style of reticle is an illuminated reticle. There are 3 sources of illumination, battery power, fiber optics, and tritium.  Combinations of the three can also be found. The most simple of these is the battery power models with a round dot in the center of the lens. The red dot reticle can vary in size, shape and clarity. With variable power scopes and red dot scopes the quality of the glass can vary. Better quality glass will result in a crisp edge to the dot type reticle.

     Try this little test. Pick up a cheap red dot and turn the power up to its highest setting. Notice the dot is not perfectly round; it can look like a star. Or it may have streamers coming from the center. While taking a sight picture rotate the red dot. See if the streamers rotate with the scope body. No streamers means the glass is of high quality. Another test is to take the red dot scope into the full sun and check to see if the dot is visible. In some of the economy models the dot will almost disappear. Next look at in in very low light. The dot should be visible but not so bright that you can’t see the target past the sight. The size of the dot makes a difference as well.

     An EO Tech has a 1 min dot in a 65 min circle. These are designed to use the small dot for accuracy and the large circle for speed. The Aimpoint models have a 3.5 min or 8 min dot. For a rifle or carbine I like the 3.5 min dot. Why the smaller dot on a carbine? The dot covers up 3.5 inches of the target at 100 yards or 7 inches at 200 yards. I can still make a head shot at 200 yards with it. The 8 min dot would be 16 inches at 200 thus making a head shot hard.  The average head is 8 inches wide. The Leupold Delta sight uses an illuminated triangle instead of a round dot. This gives the shooter an option: fast shooting at close range when referencing the entire triangle on target or using the top point of the triangle if a more precise shot is needed. I recommend zeroing the rifle at 200 yards to the top point of the triangle or the top edge of the round dot. Bushnell has a multiple reticle red dot that has a circle dot, a small dot and “T” style reticle. The shooter can select all three if needed.

     Battery life is a big factor when using a red dot scope. The first models lasted about 24 hours before the battery died. The latest model Trijicon RMR will run more than a year before the battery dies. The Leupold has a motion sensor that shuts down after 5 minutes of no movement. The standard red dot sights do not have any magnification. Therefore, long range precision is no better than when using sights.  If these are used on a rifle the shooter is limiting the performance of the weapon system. Power failure while using battery powered sights is the main reason for having back up iron sights on a gun. The other option is to use the scope itself as a huge ghost ring and put the target in the center and press the trigger.

     Fiber optic illuminated red dot sights have the advantage of not needing a battery for illumination. No battery means no power failure. A benefit of the fiber optic system is the brightness level automatically adjusts to the ambient light. This also means it is always on. A few models even have a shade so the shooter can block some of the ambient light to reduce the reticle brightness. There are 3 styles of reticles for fiber optic scopes, a solid round circle, a triangle and a chevron (an inverted “V”). There are also color options of red, green and amber. I have used all three and I like the green the best. The red can disappear on a red target or on the red dirt here in Georgia. The green is a fluorescent green that has a good contrast in foliage. Also green is in the middle of the light spectrum and is easier for the brain to pick up. The amber blends in on fall days with flat light or in reduced light. To me green is the easiest color to pick up in a wide variety of light conditions. The size of the reticle is just as important on a fiber optic scope as it is on a red dot scope. Fiber optic scopes have one big advantage; the availability of magnification with them. There are fixed power and variable power scopes available with fiber optic reticles.

       There are a limited number of scopes with tritium illuminated reticles. They work well in low light but are not bright enough by themselves to work in sun light. Normally these are combined with fiber optics to give the shooter a sight in very low or no light. One down side to tritium is they do not last forever. The half- life is 12 years.

     For a fighting rifle I would only use a scope that will continue to work when the battery dies. If the battery dies and I can’t use the scope my effectiveness as a rifleman just diminished. We should all have the knowledge and skill to point shoot the rifle in CQB without the use of any sight system.

     We covered the 2 basic types of reticles in this article. Both have their good points and drawbacks. Remember any time you get to look through a scope outdoors take the opportunity to learn about the scopes. Learning experiences are valuable specially if they are free.  Part two of this article will cover hold over style reticles and ranging reticles.

Please join me for the Guerrilla Sniper I in Blakley GA March 8-10

 

Scott Vandiver

SI Staff Instructor

www.centerfiretraining.com

 

The Return of the Pocket Sword

John Chambers, Suarez International Staff Instructor

For years a Cold Steel Voyager, in 6 inch blade length was my constant companion in many places around the world.  The knife was strong, cut like crazy, and was easily replaced if it was lost in the field, or if it needed to “lost” for other reasons.  As an added benefit, it was intimidating as hell when opened unexpectedly.  The value of the “psychological stop” is not to be underestimated.   So with all this personal history with the Voyager, I was VERY disappointed when Cold Steel (CS) discontinued the knife and I stopped carrying my 6 inch Voyager because I could no longer replace it easily.

Now I am perfectly satisfied with a mid sized folder as a defensive blade.  However, I really missed my pocket sword and I could not believe that CS would discontinue a series of knives that was so popular.  The only logical reason to do so would be to introduce a truly improved product, and did they ever accomplish that goal!  The new Voyager XL is a much improved knife compared to its predecessor.

The new version has all off the advantages of the previous model, i.e., blade length, cutting power, and a spectacular price to performance ratio.  But the improvements are dramatic.

 Grip design:  The previous grip was comfortable, but it always was just on the edge of not being secure enough, especially where a strong thrust was concerned.  Security in the slash was fine, but there was nothing of a positive nature to keep your hand from running up on the blade when thrusting.  The new grip has a deep finger cutout that gives the hand security and comfort.  At the same time, alternative finger grooves are placed towards the pommel end that allows the user to extend the reach of the knife by “choking back” on the grip.  The new texturing is far superior to the previous version if your hands are covered in blood, mud, and crud. 

 

 

 

 

Blade Design:  The blade on the new model is 5.5 inches long, which splits the difference between the 5 and 6 inch bladed variations from the previous product line.  It has a full flat grind profile vs. the previous hollow grind, which provides tremendous shearing power on a snap cut and has a clip point that provides a VERY acute point.  The blade finish is also improved.  It is glass shot tumbled, which according to the designer “smears” the pores of the steel and provides greater rust resistance compared to a polished finish.  After a summer of carrying mine constantly in 100+ degree heat, I can confirm that these claims seem to be accurate.  It did not spot, where my older versions with the polished blade would do so.

As an added bonus the new slightly shorter blade length is perfectly legal in the Republic of Texas.  Would an analysis of sales figures show that Texas has a large share of the pocket sword buying power?  It does make one wonder!

Blade Lock:  The older edition had a conventional back lock that was very good, it was IMHO, the best of the breed.  But compared to the new Tri-Ad lock design it might as well be a slip joint.  If you do some searching, you will see the tests that Cold Steel and others have done to knives that use this lock design, but to me the most impressive display is when the designer Andrew Demko hangs 350 pounds of free weight plates off of the handle of a similar sized CS Rajah II and the lock is totally undamaged or even changed.  After using 4 types of knives from Cold Steel that use this lock, I feel it is the strongest lock design available in a folding knife.  

Overall Design:  In general terms it is a much better product than its predecessor.  The thumb studs allow much more positive opening and there are now ambidextrous pocket clips instead of right side only.  The new clips are also much more discreet than the clip found on the older model.  Other improvements include an adjustable pivot pin that is able to be tightened and aluminum liners instead of the straight polymer construction that could swell in high heat and humidity.  It is also assembled with torx head screws and can be fully disassembled if needed. The blade stock is also slightly thicker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is also another feature of this knife that I would include in the “big medicine” or “motivational juju” category.  Take a look at the close up of the handle texturing.  It is not checkered; it is actually made up of raised Maltese crosses.  When you consider the history of that emblem and those who wore it, I cannot think of a better emblem to be included on a blade that is carried on a daily basis.  The pocket sword has returned and is an excellent piece of kit for the modern crusader.  As a Suarez International Defensive Knife instructor my suggestion is simple:  get one.   You will not be disappointed. 

To purchase Cold Steel knives go to Onesource Tactical

John Chambers' Training Schedule

TSD Combat Systems Mk 48 Feed Adapter

 

TSD Combat Systems was approached to fabricate a better feed adapter interface for the Mk 48 Machine Gun in use by special units in the middle east.  The original feed adapter, made from stampings, was deconstructing itself during extended firefights.  As soon as TSD was given the sample unit, we stopped regular production and dedicated all personnel to this project.  TSD Combat Systems turned out working proto-types within 48 hours.

These units are made of heat treated 17-4 aerospace quality steel, and guaranteed to hold up to repeated fire and extremes of heat that were destroying the original units. We supplied these in the AquaTerra™ finish and in various Cerakote colors.

Interested US Military can contact TSD at info@tsdcombatsystems.com, or call our Military Liason - Tom Cornelius at 928-776-4492.

TSD Combat Systems Update & G-19 Slide Sale - Week Of September 14, 2011

 

We have been quite busy here with Suarez International duties, but the march of TSD continues - sempre avanti as it were.

The Customization Program for customer's slides has undergone some updating. In short we made it far more streamlined and easier for those who want to do their own slides rather than buy a high end TSD top unit. The AquaTerra™ finish is now available on the customer slides as an option. We have obtained a new technician with a higher skill set thus our cost has come down...and so has yours. Take a look at the options and pricing

 
The long awaited G-19s are here. These are offered in similar packages to the G-17 packages. As an incentive for our brothers at warriortalk, we are offering these at very attractive pricing.

For the next 24 hours, we are offering the first six Stainless Steel G-19 complete packages at $1200.00.  Order yours here - Limited Availability

And for the next 48 hours, the first dozen stripped TSD G-19 stainless slides (Internals and Sights, but No RMR or Barrel Included) for $359.99. Order them here.

 

The G-19 sale begins at September 14, 2011 at 1200 HRS.

And finally, as if that was not enough to keep us all up at night...the Generation Four Slides went into the factory today.

TSD Questions - 928.776.4492

Audaces Fortuna Iuvat

Gabe Suarez

Warrior Talk Blog
Tactical Gear For The Civilian Fighter
Training For The Martial Civilian

Blessed be The Lord My Rock - Jesus Christ
To Whom I Owe All That I Am,
All That I Have Been,
Or Will Ever Be.

TSD Combat Systems AquaTerra™ G-17 Pistol Slide

 
TSD Combat Systems AquaTerra™ G-17 Combat Pistol Slide

AquaTerra refers to "sea and land".  And that is exactly what this package is designed for - specifically to withstand any hostile environment an operator could possibly find on this earth. Whether you need to fight in the searing heat and weapon-grinding  sand of a middle eastern desert, in the salty gun-rusting cold of a North Sea oil rig, or in the rotting green mass of a tropical jungle, the AquaTerra system will withstand anything you could possibly encounter and deliver the reliability and accuracy that has become hallmark for TSD products. 

We begin with the TSD Combat Systems Match G-17 slide, precision machined out of aerospace quality 17-4, heat treated to a uniform RC 46 throughout (not just on the surface), and have them finished in our proprietary AquaTerra plating process.  This process creates a permanently lubricious surface that eliminates the need for any grit-attracting wet lubrication, or cleaning for thousands of lube-free, corrosion-free, trouble-free rounds. When slightly lubricated, overall wear properties are superior to any other finish or plating process commercially available today to civilian or military end-users.

The AquaTerra plating process produces consistent tolerances within ± 1 to 2 microns. The result is uniform plating throughout the slide, exceeding Rockwell hardness of any other finish commercial, OEM, or military (68-72 C) and an extremely low friction coefficient (.04). For our excellence-seeking customers, this means unsurpassed durability and reliability in any environment on earth. 

The TSD Combat Systems Barrel is machined from solid 416 stainless steel, and then hardened to 41 RC. These barrels hold tolerances to +/- 0.001" to 0.002" in all critical areas. Cut broach rifling is used, with 1:16 rifling, and a left hand twist. These are superior in every way to any other aftermarket drop in barrels available today and exceed the accuracy potential of the OEM units. Unlike the OEM units, you can use any type of 9mm bullet you wish to use without affecting reliability, accuracy, or safety in any way.

The Trijicon RMR included in the package has been tested to pressures equivalent to depths of 66 feet/20 meters, meeting the requirements of an Advanced Open Water Diver.  As added assurance, the sight is double sealed with a polymer adhesive strip to provide even greater protection from the elements.

TSD Combat Systems is defined by its quest for excellence and is currently re-defining the meaning of “state of the art” in the world of small arms.  Unparalleled reliability, exacting accuracy, and martial elegance in any environment on earth. 

 

MORE INFO HERE

 

Package Includes -

 

AquaTerra finished TSD G-17 Slide

TSD Combat Systems Match Barrel

Trijicon RM02 Red Dot LED Sight

TSD Suppressor Sights

All slide internals

TSD Pistol Case & Lube

The PPS-43: Study Gun, Kid's Gun, Historical Artifact

 
The PPS-43 SBR

The real PPS-43 (Pistolet-Pulemyot Sudaeva, model of 1943 = Sudaev SMG) was an answer to the need for more compact and handier weapon than its predecessor, the PPSh-41, then in use by Soviet Army.

The original PPS is a full-automatic only weapon, simple blowback, and is fired from the open bolt. The safety is located at the front of the trigger guard. The receiver and barrel shroud are made from stamped steel. Rear sight is L-shaped flip type and is marked for 100 and 200 meters distance, front sight is fixed blade type. The barrel is equipped with very simple muzzle brake. The folding stock is made from steel and folds up and over the top of the receiver.

 
OK..so much for historical and technical discussions.  It is a common thing for writers to take a WW2 era weapon and then compare it to an HK MP5 or an FN P90. Other than to sell the guns that may advertise in that particular magazine, doing this is foolish and akin to comparing a Stuka Dive Bomber to an A-10 Warthog.  So dispensing with such silliness I will say that the PPS-43 is a nice weapon.  By modern standards it is longer and heavier than needed, but compared to an MP-44 or a Thompson, it is sleek and fast to the shoulder.  Manipulations of the weapons – loading, unloading, reloading, etc., are very easy and almost intuitive to one that has spent a great deal of time with an AK. I suspect Mikhail Kalashnikov got to handle one or two of these when he was envisioning his creation.

There are several semi auto versions of this available today for those so inclined. Early this year I bought one of the Polish Radom copies brought into the USA as a pistol.  I also bought a rear receiver section with the stock still attached and a sack full of magazines.  Ninety days later, I had my tax stamp and set forth to turn it back into a semi auto SMG.  Removal of the existing stock, and adding the components to enable folding and opening  was quite easy and required about an hour of work. 

 
A couple of days ago, the junior staff and I went for a drive in the Arizona woods.  They were looking forward to shooting the PPS as they had seen in the Call of Duty game that I consulted on. They drove the Jeep and I sat shotgun with my Suchka.  Arriving at our training ground, we worked with the AKs, and the big Moisin rifle. But the real fun began with the SBR'd PPS43. We went through nearly 800 rounds of ammo.  Gotta love it when you see a 13 year old bust a take off and zipper a target at a dead run with a combloc SMG, and then do a after action with a harder war face than yours!

 
The PPS43 is not going to be the first line of defense at home, nor will I rely on it for anything serious any more than I will the big Moisin Nagant.  We have other “tools” that fulfill those missions.  But as a historical study gun, and a "play gun" for the junior staff, it is a very nice addition to the collection. 

TSD - GUERRILLA SNIPER BAG

 
TSD - GUERRILLA SNIPER BAG

 

The Guerrilla Sniper bag was purpose designed by one of our students currently deployed as a sniper.  It was designed to serve as a "killer's office" of sorts, offering the positioned sniper the ability to access all the tools he needs to make the shot. 

  

The bag is purpose engineered to be used as a shooting rest, with a special forearm guide intended to hold the rifle steady, regardless of the angle of the support surface, for those critical shots. 

That forearm guide, and the ground-facing portion of the bag, are fitted with rough rubberized material to hold the bag in position, and to better hold the rifle steady during firing. 

 

It is low in profile, but yet high enough to allow use with both bolt action rifles as well as magazine fed semi auto rifles such as FALs, AR-10s, and M14s.  While the bag can be carried anywhere, the focus and scope of the bag is to provide the sniper with an easy to carry and deploy kit, and not necessarily to fit into a "gray" social environment.

 

On either side of the shooting rest there are pockets that are sized to contain two (2) 20 round boxes of ammunition, or metal box magazines.  These pockets are accessible from the right side or the left side (top/bottom) while maintaining a shooting position.  Alternatively these pockets can be used for the positioning of rangefinders, wind meters, GPS or other mission essentials.

 

There are molle attachments through out, and several internal dividers, allowing the sniper to custom rig his bag for any personal or mission needs. The entire bag comes with a shoulder strap allowing a quick donning or ditching as necessary, and can be equipped with any water/hydration bladder as desired.

 

 Dimensions are 9x7x17 inches.

 

ONLY $89.99   READY TO SHIP

 

 

ORDER IT HERE

TSD - Blade-Tech WRS RMR Equipped Glock 17 Tactical Holster System

 

TSD - Blade-Tech WRS RMR Equipped Glock 17 Tactical Holster System

The TSD RMR Sighting System® has revolutionized tactical shooting, making the very difficult, if not the impossible, easily within reach of the average shooter.  Initially, to supply our CCW clients, we introduced the Seraphim CCW Holster.  This allowed our customers to carry the RMR-Equipped pistol daily in total concealment.  But after many inquiries from our military and police clients for a strong, secure, and fast duty holster, we set out to meet the need.

We contacted Blade-Tech to make us a version of their excellent WRS Holster for our TSD pistols.  And after some serious work and testing, we are proud to announce the  TSD - Blade-Tech WRS RMR Equipped Tactical Holster System, equipped with Blade-Tech’s new Tactical Modular Mounting System. This new mounting system is comprised of one male and two female locking attachments that allow for increased mobility of the user’s gear from Duty Belt, to SWAT based subload, to MOLLE gear. It will accept any of Blade-Tech's modular attachments.

The holster itself is Blade-Tech’s popular Tactical Holster with WRS (Weapon Retention System) level 2 retention holster. The Tactical Modular Mount has a male attachment that connects directly to the existing mounting holes on the WRS holster. One of the two female locking mechanisms will be fastened to the corresponding Tactical Thigh rig leg plate. The wears has the option of attaching the other female locking mechanism to either a Blade-Tech Tek-Lok (belt) or to a pair of their sturdy Molle Loks (chest).

The male attachment is designed to be firmly locked and unlocked from the female mechanisms. A built in secondary lock can be employed to further achieve a more positive, secure fit. This configuration allows the user to quickly and conveniently move the holster from their thigh to chest or belt and back.  So now, our police and military clients, and HRO/CQB students can have a cutting edge holster system for their RMR Glocks that is fast, secure and adaptable to any situation.  Another ground breaking first from Technical Services Division.

Available in Olive Green, Flat Dark Earth, and Black

This holster will fit Glock 17 and 22 only.  It will fit the Glock 19 and 23 with a little room in the barrel area. 

MSRP: $179.99

One Source Price: $159.99

You Save: $20.00 (11 %)

 

PRE-ORDER YOURS HERE

Bandoleers Are Back!!!

TSD Magazine Bandoleer Kit

The magazine bandoleer has been around as long as the magazine-fed rifle itself. Inspired by the Vietnam era bandoleer for the 20 round M16 magazines, this modern day version is suitable for any magazine for any rifle. Although we picture it with the top of the line AK30s, you can use it with your M4, FAL, HK, or M1A just as easily. Made out of modern tan colored cordura nylon materials it will last for a very long time.

$19.99

ORDER HERE

Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR 1-4x24 Test and Evaluation

Karl Kasarda - Suarez International Instructor (Tucson, AZ) 

This is a review of the Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR 1-4x24 close to medium range optic. I intend to go walk you through the installation, zeroing and use of this optic in both the CQB and SDM/medium range role.

Every sighting system we leverage on our rifle has benefits and detriments, it is up to the user to determine what needs they have for their application and therefore chose the sighting system that best fits their current needs.

Iron sights are durable, always there, and can be very effective with training and practice. However, iron sights leave something to be desired when forced to leverage them in less than optimal firing positions.

Red dot 0x sights excel at CQB distances to 100 yards. Quality red dot sighting systems provide a nearly parallax free sight picture which is easy to acquire in almost any strange position without eye relief issues when speed is of the essence. Red dot systems start to fail, however, at distance. Typically the dot itself is not sufficiently precise or is too large for targets at distance. Adding a secondary magnifier in the rear can help but then again introduces elements of parallax as well as eye relief. Lastly, these magnifiers tend to be another obnoxious and heavy thing that is now hanging off your carbine.

The Hi-Lux Leatherwood CMR scope intends to fill in the role between a CQB sight and a precision high magnification "sniper" scope. The CMR optic is variable between 1x and 4x with a quick to acquire reticle designed not only for CQB purposes but also for distance with range finding capabilities and a built in BDC for quick hold offs at range.

Unboxing:

The Hi-Lux scope comes with a number of accessories and excellent instructions:



The optic comes with a cleaning cloth, front and rear lens caps, allen wrench and a CR-2032 battery (for the illumination).

I would highly recommend adding on the extended lever for the magnification dial as this greatly speeds up the ability of the user to get to the magnification they need when they need it. We'll discuss that more later.

Installation:

The optic was very easy to install and, due to the windage stadia lines that extend across almost the entire field of view from left to right, also very easy to get level in the mount:

Please note that the mount is not included with the scope. The mount used for this review is the Burris P.E.P.R.



The magnification knob initially is rather small and a bit hard to get a grasp on:



The add-on accessory of the extended lever takes just a minute to install and I would highly recommend purchasing it with the scope. With the extended lever, it is quick to find and switching from 1 to 4x magnification is a snap:



Zeroing:

The Hi-Lux scope has an elevation knob on the top and a windage knob on the right. The "clicks" are a bit soft but good enough to do the job. When zeroing the scope, you'll want to loosen the two hex screws holding the knobs tight on both the elevation and windage. With these screws loose, you can turn the knobs without effecting the "zero" settings underneath.

As with any optic, it is best to start by just bore sighting (if possible). On an AR, just take the upper off the lower receiver and then sight through the rifle bore on some easily identifiable thing. I tend to use a rock outside, for example. While keeping the upper steady on a bench, look through the bore and point it at the object you're using. Then look through the optic and dial it in until it is also pointing at the same object. This should get you on paper at 25 yards when you start to zero with live fire.

At this point, start at 25 yards from a supported position and fire 2 rounds. Adjust only elevation or windage at a given time, do not move both at the same time. Once you have elevation correct, then adjust the windage. When you're impacting where you are aiming, move the target out to 50 yards and repeat. Ultimately, you'll want to zero the Hi-Lux CMR at 100 yards as that is where the optic is designed to be zeroed for the BDC reticle to be accurate.

Fire a 5 shot group at 100 yards and confirm that you're exactly where you're supposed to be. When done, tighten the hex screws on both knobs and ensure they reference "0".

Usage in the CQB environment:

Many "1x" scopes on the market truly are not 1x, but something close like 1.1 or 1.2x. The closer the 1x is to a true 1x, the easier it is to use for close range engagements. The Hi-Lux CMR scope's lowest 1 setting isn't quite exactly 1x but it is so close that I find it can be used easily with both eyes open without causing significant visual distortion. This is a great achievement, and in my opinion, one of the best features of this optic. It's not quite as fast as a red dot system but it is as good as you can get with a variable magnification optic.

The reticle is very quick to bring on target and, due to the very close to truly 1x magnification, keeping both eyes open and focused downrange is not a problem.

Here's a video of myself performing a 5 yard 5 shot drill with the CMR:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiQahSu25yk

The eye relief of this scope is also very forgiving. Most variable magnification optics have very limited eye relief parameters thus making it nearly impossible to get a sight solution on the target in any unusual firing positions. Here's a video of the scope in action, SBU prone under a barricade with targets at 50 yards approximately 90 degrees apart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oXrG5JChz0

Lastly, with the extended lever, switching from 1 to 4x is a rapid and easy transition. There is limited application for the intermediary magnification settings; I've found that I'm usually at 1 or 4 and rarely in the middle. It'd be nice if the optic could just quick switch between the two but that's an entirely different beast.

Hold offs for extremely close range are also very easy and quick. The CMR reticle is a nearly completed circle with a break at the bottom 6 o'clock. That break in the circle is, for any practical use, your hold over for close range (7 yards, for example). The black dot in the graphic below indicates the area of the reticle I'm referring to.
Please note that the black dot is not really part of the reticle but I superimposed it there for demonstrative purpose:



Usage in the SDM role:

When zeroed at 100 yards, I found the BDC reticle to accurately represent the hold overs with 62 grain 5.56. 55 grain is relatively close as well, sufficiently close for "torso hits" at range. If you're using "exotic" loadings like 77 grain Mk262 or 75 grain Hornady bullets, you'll need to goto the range and determine which stadia on the BDC reticle represent your particular load at distance. This is not a challenging endeavor, however, just requires an hour at the known distance range and a box of ammunition. Fire at each known distance and then notate the location on the BDC that reflects your ammunition's behavior. Once I have this nailed down, I actually tape it to the side of my stock as a quick reference guide. In this regard, if I switch from a standard load to a 77 grain load for longer range, I can just glance down to determine the hold over I should reference in the BDC. I would not recommend attempting to commit this memory only as memory tends to fail at the worst possible moment.

Here's an image of the reticle along with all the different measurements of different elements. As you can see, there's a lot of flexibility here in what you can personally choose to use for your range finding as well as hold offs:



The relatively forgiving eye relief affords the user the ability to switch between required positions with minimal difficulty. The only position I found to be challenging with the eye relief was when going from standing to sitting as this tends to position the shooter's cheek weld further back than any other position. You can either 'creep up' on the optic or learn to quickly adjust your adjustable stock forward for a better siting position. The reality of this is that the sitting position is likely the least used place you'll find yourself in and thus this is a minor issue.

Once again, the quickly adjustable variable magnification is a great aid. Acquire your target at 1x, then use the extended lever to zoom in to 4x. This can be done while maintaining a sight picture and therefore you can keep the target in view through the entire process. This is an excellent function for maintaining situational awareness and keeping track of multiple, or moving, targets down range.

Issues:

Nothing is perfect, and so a few bugs did arise during the testing.

Target knobs can be accidentally moved.
The elevation and windage knobs are too easily turned. While they are designed well in that you can very quickly reset them to zero, I would prefer that they could be "locked" so that they could not be inadvertently bumped. When I first started zeroing the scope I was concerned about this possibility but wanted to wait to see if it did actually happen in the field, and it did. On a few occasions I did find that my windage knob, in particular, had been inadvertently bumped and moved off zero. One time this happened when being removed from the carrying case but, more disturbingly, a few other times did get bumped while being used in dynamic movement. At very close ranges this would have minimal impact but it could be catastrophic at range. I landed up "locking down" the knobs using electrical tape. Frankly, with a CMR/BDC reticle, I have no need for quick adjustment target knobs. I'd suggest that this optic should be zero'ed and left alone. Resultantly, my suggestion to Hi-Lux would be that they provide a way to lock the knobs entirely.

Illimunation
The CMR optic has the option of green or red illumination. This illumination is not sufficiently bright to be used except in low light. While it essential to have this illumination during low light, do not expect to be able to use it otherwise. As a result, the black reticle can occasionally be lost in the background if the background is dark. This is not too problematic but is worth noting.

Insufficient sun shade
There is insufficient tube forward of the primary glass at the front of the scope.

This presents two issues:
1) Down range glint and glare could give away the shooter's position.
2) If you're aiming in a direction that is towards a bright light source, the lack of a sun shade can blind the shooter.

During a few tests in the early morning or late afternoon I was partially blinded by the sun even though it was at an offset angle. The light was being caught by the forward lens and reflecting in the tube. I believe a longer sun shade would eliminate both of the problems dramatically.

Summary and conclusions:

The Hi-lux CMR 1-4x24 optic is an exceptional piece of equipment for someone whom needs to deal with targets anywhere from 1-400 yards. It fills an important niche in that it can be leveraged in both the CQB as well as mid-range SDM role, something that neither a standard red dot nor a fixed magnification optic can truly perform efficiently. With the 1x setting, using this optic at close range is only minimally slower than that of a dedicated red dot but much faster than a fixed magnification optic. With the variable magnification up to 4x, the optic can be very successfully leveraged for target identification and engagement past 400 yards.

It is an incredible bargain at the price they've brought this to market at and exceeds the performance of other very high priced scopes (such as the Leupold CQT).
It has proven itself to be durable, reliable and effective in its intended purpose of bridging the gap between close and mid range. I would have no concerns recommending this scope to anyone looking to extend their reach without having to completely surrender all close range effectiveness.



You can get this scope from One Source right here:

http://www.onesourcetactical.com/lea...angescope.aspx

Don't forget the extended lever as well:

http://www.onesourcetactical.com/cmr...ndedlever.aspx

Gear for the Rifleman

by Suarez International TN Staff Instructor

Ryan Acuff

 

I got an email last week from a guy that was wanting to take a Fighting Rifle class I'm teaching in March.  One of his questions was "Other than a rifle, what other equipment do I need?".   Good question!

If you plan on employing your rifle for more than just a safe queen, you’ll need a way of holding ancillary equipment.  When deciding what to get, we need to understand that there are lots of different missions to plan for. Private citizens should at a minimum have a rifle with a good sling and have a haversack with enough space to hold the two bare bones pieces of gear…ammo and water.  There are plenty of options for this role, the Terrorist Interdiction Bag or the US Peacekeeper Rapid Deployment Pack.  A step up from there and we start to get into equipment that is typically associated with high risk operators, Military/SWAT/Security Contractors/Partisan Operators etc.  For those of us that train in high risk operator tactics I recommend a layered system also referred to as “lines of gear”, with a 1st, 2^nd, and 3^rd line.

Let’s start off with the first line.  I’ve always liked the ALICE gear that was so popular years ago, which was basically a belt with padded shoulder straps.  Today’s rifleman has a similar option.  Enter the era of padded MOLLE belts.  I’ve played around with no less than 4 different brands of MOLLE belts.  All worked, but weren’t just right.  At a friend’s suggestion I bought the High Speed Gear Inc. Suregrip belt along with “Taco” mag pouches, 1^st aid pouch, and suspenders.  The belt comes with a removable polymer stiffener (insert witty remark) and an inner duty belt.  The inner belt is thick enough to hold up thigh rigs without the belt rolling over.  In my case a Blade-Tech WRS in flat dark earth.  The MOLLE portion also has 3 open slots in the bottom for mounting sub-loads, such as the Blade-Tech.   The MOLLE belt’s Suregrip feature is an inner lining of Neoprene that helps to keep the belt in place and aids in distributing the weight. 

 

The belt can be used as just an outter belt to carry the holster, pistol mags, and dump pouch or you can really load it down with extra rifle mags and even Nalgene bottles.  I chose to go middle of the road and currently have my pistol, three rifle mags, two pistol mags, cool guy multi-tool, med pouch, Surefire light, and dump pouch mounted.  The Tacos pouches work great at securing different magazine types.  Everything from Makarovs to .45 Glock 21 mags will fit in the pistol pouches.  The rifle pouches fit both the AR15 mags and US Palm AK30’s and are tension/size adjustable via shock cord.  The rig is set up so that I can still go prone and actually move while wearing it.  Another approach would be to place just one rifle mag on the belt and the rest would be on a chest rig (2nd line). 

The suspenders help to reduce fatigue with shock cord loops at the ends.  This really helps to stabilize the belt platform while running.  This is important because if you can’t run in your gear then you're either using the wrong gear for you or you're using crap.  The suspenders go unnoticed when worn in conjunction with hydration bladders, chest rigs, and rucks which would fall under our 2^nd and 3^rd lines of support gear.

 

Keep in mind that gear is not the prime focus of our training and tactics, but we can’t dismiss it either.  Having quality equipment is important.  You shouldn’t have to fight with your gear every time you’re on the range and certainly not in the real world.  We’re fortunate that we live in the golden age of quality support gear. 

Link to Rifleman's Gear

Links to train with Ryan in  TN and KY

 

 

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist"                                   

Ephesians 6:14

  

 

    

Size Matters - A Definite Study on Personal Defense Weapons

 

Size Matters

"My many careers have included the US Army as a Military Police Instructor, and a Police Officer for a major east coast department, in the Patrol Division and former Special Response Team member. Military assignments include Personal Security Team Leader for Commanding General South Western Asia 1990/1 Persian Gulf War. Dignitary and Executive Protection details have taken me from state dinners with royalty to inner city gutters with junkies, drug dealers and hookers. One thing remains constant; the growing threat to personal security. Criminals, psychopaths, and extremists are motivated solely by their own causes, whether that is to profit at your expense, a warped sense of reality, or desire to inflict their beliefs on others no matter the cost in blood. Streets, shopping malls, and churches are no longer safe harbors. Individuals who fail to recognize this become easy prey, while those who acknowledge and accept the responsibility for their well being become the masters of their own fate."

In this book we'll discuss some of the history of Personal Defense Weapons, Carbines and Short Barreled Rifles, and the various applications of them, concealment, and home defense use.

Author: B.R. Kurtz
176 Pages
Publisher: IMG

ORDER HERE - ONLY $19.99

 

The TSD-10 10mm Long Slide

 

The ultimate semi-auto hunting handgun, the Glock 20 10mm pistol, just got better.   Nothing exceeds like excess and this package exceeds anything previously possible with a semi auto handgun. The TSD-10 includes everything needed to turn your Glock 20 or 21 into a magnum powered precision combat weapon.

We begin with a Lone Wolf 10mm Long Slide and mill it for the proven Trijicon RMR red dot sight. 

This sight has been used on CCW weapons and has allowed operators to hit at extreme long distances.

We add a match quality Lone Wolf barrel, six inches long, and recoil unit.  The 6” barrel allows for holster carry, yet optimizes the ballistics of the 10mm round.

Corbon 10mm Auto 155gr Self-Defense DPX travels at 1300 fps, and Corbon 10mm Auto 180gr CORBON Hunter BCSP at 1400 fps.  That makes this G20 conversion rival the .41 Magnum in power!

 
 

Package includes TSD customized 10mm long slide, complete with all internal parts, finished in olive drab green, and fitted with suppressor sights.  A Trijicon 8 MOA RMR is milled into the slide. It also includes a 6” stainless steel match quality Lone Wolf barrel and recoil unit.

$1250.00

MORE INFO HERE

The New Trijicon RMR-A

 

When I heard that Trijicon had redesigned the RMR to include an adjustment mechanism I got a little worried.  The main reason I had looked at the Trijicon RMR in the first place for handgun applications was that it had no adjustments or on-off switches to get messed up in daily concealed carry. I asked our Trijicon representative about this at SHOT Show.  His answer was to reach in his bag and give me one to work with and test. That is what I like about these guys...they put their money where their mouth is.

So I brought the RMR home and promptlyinstalled it on one of our in-house TSD Glocks.  This one was an all Lone Wolf weapon slide and frame.  It was worked over by our TSD staff and finished the slide in desert tan.  The RMR popped on easily and tightened down with no issues. TSD is the first to ever mount one of these on a handgun.

First order of things was to get used to how the unit worked.  On the left side and right side are strong pressure pads to increase and decrease dot intensity. The dot size has been reduced to 6.5 MOA. I set the brightness level to work with the ambient light and holstered the empty pistol.  I worked through my hour long dry practice session.  Drawing from our Seraphim holster, the dot intensity did not change at all, showing that the pressure needed to change the settings is more than what may be likely in holster carry. Nice.

That done we worked with the settings.  There are several and the brightest setting is quite bright that even in the strong mile high AZ sun, it was sufficiently bright. 

The highest setting will use up battery life very quickly so its not wise toleave it at that setting.  The lower settings are sufficient for low light use, and even workable with our night vision devices.

Nice again.

The Trijicon site says this about the Adjustable LED:

"Developed to improve precision and accuracy with any style or caliber of weapon, the Trijicon RMR™ (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) is designed to be as durable as the legendary ACOG. The RM06 and RM08 are LED sights powered by a standard CR2032 battery. Housed in rugged forged aluminum, the RMR is extremely tough yet lightweight. New easy-to-use adjusters with audible clicks allow for quick windage and elevation adjustments.  

With eight available brightness settings, the reticle can be manually adjusted by pressing the plus or minus buttons on either side of the unit. To switch to auto adjust mode simply press both buttons simultaneously and release. To save battery life turn the optic off by pressing both buttons simultaneously and holding for 3 seconds.   

The new Trijicon RMR™ is tougher than any alternative and suitable for military, law enforcement and hunting applications."  

Magnification	1x
Bullet Drop Compensator	No
Length (In)	45mm
Weight (oz)	1.2 oz w/Battery
Illumination Source	3V Lithium Battery
Reticle Pattern	6.5 MOA Dot
Day Reticle Color	Red
Night Reticle Color	Red
Bindon Aiming Concept	n
Adjustment @ 100 yards (clicks/in)	1.0
Housing Material	Forged Aluminum

We should be getting our first delivery of these in a few weeks -

TRIJICON ADJUSTABLE RMR

 

Bullpup Rifle Gunfighting - The DVD

 

BULLPUP RIFLE GUNFIGHTING

Operating The Bullpup Rifle In Combat

 

With John Chambers

The Bullpup rifle system is perhaps the most controversial weapon in the modern armory.  First shown to the world in the form of the Steyr AUG, it has served in many armies and fought in several wars with distinction.  Today we see the bullpup system alive and well in various great new offering from American gun manufacturers.  But the controversy remains around this compact rifle system.  There are those who love it and those who hate it and few positions in between. 

Suarez International staff instructor John Chambers took this rifle system into the field and found it both workable, efficient, and comfortable to use.  John is no stranger to combat rifles having served with distinction as a US Army Soldier in an infantry capacity and carried rifles in harm's way many times.  John's findings on the Bullpup system will cause all of us to take a second look at this weapon.  Just like the AK, the system cannot be forced into an AR-15 centric shooting method.  To the contrary, it needs a shooting system particular to the weapon. 

 

Just like we did for the Kalashnikov platform, this DVD delves into the Bullpup concept and destroys much of the dogma surrounding it.  Myths will be shown to be false and the advantages of the weapon platform will become obvious.  John Chambers shows the most applicable and efficient system for running the bullpup rifle in combat. If you own a Bullpup Rifle, you need this DVD to learn how to run it to its highest efficiency.

 

DVD - 45 Minutes

$29.99

ORDER HERE

The Kalashnikov's Missing Link

 

I have been teaching the use of the kalashnikov platform for six years now.  I could say we were shooting AKs when AKs weren't cool.  But today, the AK has become america's second rifle.  At SHOT, I saw almost as many AKs as M4 clones.  Along with a copy of the M4 and 1911, SIG is coming out with an AK.  Even those who have denigrated the AK are realizing that whether they like it or not, the AK is here to stay.

While I am an advocate of leaving the operating controls of the rifle, such as the safety lever, the bolt handle, the magazine release and locking method alone, I admit that the weapon, like any weapon, can be made better.  One of these areas of improvement has been the ability to mount optical sights.  An AK devotee has had few choices.  The forward mounted optics offered by the Ultimak or the Midwest Industries handguard models work great in the CQB environment and have proven themselves in battle and on ranges around the world. 

But the shooters and operators of  today want choices, and the choices for the AK have been quite narrow in this area if someone wanted a traditionally mounted optic. All of them revolved around the side mounted rail system on the left side of an AK rifle.  While that system works fine, it is not without its problems. 

Specifically there is a limit to the eye relief available, height over bore, ability to disassemble with scope mounted, and the users of the popular Russian and Bulgarian AK-100 series folding stock needed to remove the optics to fold the stock.  Not good.

There have also been rail systems inspired by the Polish Beryl rifle that attached to the rear sight interface and locked over the top cover and latched via the tang screw at the juncture of the buttstock and receiver.  This also worked well after a fashion but at the cost of weight, expense, and a very high scope position.  As well, the return to zero capability has been very questionable on some models.

 

Then Texas Weapon Systems entered the picture with its Railed Top Cover system.  Called the 2nd Generation Dog Leg™ Scope Rail, it is the brainchild of Nelson Fesas, an up and coming weapon designer with some revolutionary ideas, most of them focused on improving the kalashnikov platform.  AFter a lengthy lunch time discussion with Mr. Fesas at SHOT Show, I will say that if even a fraction of them are actually put into production, they will change the world of the Kalashnikov rifle forever.

The focus of this article is Nelson's Dogleg Top Cover.  I wrote about them briefly last month.  This will serve as a more thorough and detailed write up of the accessory.    

Installation was relatively easy if you know how to change the rear sight on an AK pattern rifle.  It locked in easily and closed rock solid.  Shooting the rifle showed no change in zero when lifting the top cover up to access the internals.  SInce totally removing the top cover is not a part of normal maintenace with this unit, we did not uninstall it and reintsall it to check zero.  In normal use it does as intended.  The rear peep sight is a very nice and strong unit, probably stronger than the original AK sight.  The one issue I had with it is that it requires a taller ring on some scopes. Hopefully, a folding rear sight may be a future option which would allow for a lower scope mount. Regardless, the scope position is still low enough to afford a reasonable cheekweld.  Those wanting more can opt for a custom cheekpiece.

On our test rifle we mounted the new excellent CMR scope from Leatherwood-Hi Lux.  The designer of this scope intended it for an eastern european special ops unit, and he had all the data for the reticle when using the 7.62x39*.  This scope is a true 1-4X and allows for CBQ use as well as extended range within the cartridge's limits. 

The scope has a circular reticle similar to the Leupold MR/T Special Purpose Reticle, but at less than half the price. We have successfully used this same optic on the in house PSL rifle with excellent results.

What is even more cool is the fact that, not using the typical AK side mount, nor requiring a rear stock tang, it works with the very popular AK-100 polymer side folders, and the AK-74 steel triangle folder as seen in the photos.  No other existing scope mount allows this.

Similarly, this scope mount platform now opens the door to the use of non-extended eye relief scopes such as the ACOG system and the simultaneous use of Aimpoints with Night Vision units and magnifiers. This is great timing as a large US optics manufacturer advised that they are going to unveil a Popular BDC scope with the BDC calibrated for 7.62x39.

The 2nd Generation Dog Leg™ Scope Rail links the great Kalshnikov platform with the advanced optics available in the USA without needing to resort to substandard mounting platforms. And at a price point of $140, it is within reach of every AK owner wanting to mount a scope in the traditional  location.

 

You can order yours at One Source Tactical

 

Tops Wolf Pup - Fighting Knife?

John McCreery - Suarez International Instructor

 From Tops' website: 

Blade Length: 2 1/2"
Cutting Edge: 2 1/2"
O/A Length: 5 1/4"
Thickness: 1/8"
Weight: 4oz
Sheath: Kydex With a Rotating Steel Spring Clip
Weight: 3.8oz
Weight w/ Sheath: 5.6oz

  
  

 

 

 

 

 

This knife is a big surprise in a small package.  The blade at 2 1/2 inches would have some people scoff and ask what can you do with a small knife like that? Once you have an understanding at how much damage can be done with such a small blade, the wolf pup fits the bill for a small package that will work well in an edc roll especially in an NPE environment. 

 

10 attributes of a fighting knife 

Usually when I look for a knife I follow Gabe’s “10 points when choosing a fighting knife.”  Here is how this stacks up with Gabe’s points.

 

1.  Sharp and pointy - This blade is short and tough.  The Belly is rounded with  a fairly wide spine for a short blade to really open up someone with a good hard slash. 

2.  Point in line with the handle –The handle is slightly curved but follows this attribute close enough.  There is no wildly up or down swept blade which can be counter productive to driving the knife into someone.

3.  Long enough – But, not too long.  This is not a knife you are going to ram through the sternum into the heart.  Nor will it run up under the ribs with much luck.  It is long enough to drive into the side of the neck to sever carotids, jugulars and subclavian arteries etc.  It is long enough to carve someone off of my gun if they make a grab for it.  Using it to slash at limbs and targets like quads is where I think this will show true value.  Using the thumb along the spine for support will allow for great pressure cuts and slashes.

4.  Rough handle – The handle is made of micarta and is surprisingly filling in my palm.  I feared this surface might be too slick especially in a small knife.  I grabbed a piece of frozen chicken from the freezer to give me a fairly hard surface that would not destroy the knife and still have some resistance!  I was able to drive deep into the frozen chicken and was able to apply some good pressure cuts that went through.  I smeared my hand in chicken juice/slime and drove the blade into a phone book in a standard grip and reverse grip.  Yep, no slippage and fingers still attached. 

  

 

5.  Solid lock – fixed blade – nuff  said

6.  Solid Opening – see point 5 – nuff said

7.  Good Steel – 1095 is a good steel that holds an edge pretty well.  

8. Movable clips.   The Wolf Pup does not have a movable clip but does come with a kydex sheath with a spring clip.  It allows for 360 degree rotation for carry in many different areas of the body.  I’ve played with this and found the best for me is attached to my belt just left of center line, between the belt and pants.  I rotate it to about a 45 degree angle.  This gives me great access with my left hand in a standard grip.  In this position it also allows me to access the blade in a reverse grip from a cross draw.  The more you work with H2H and blades, the more you realize the need for access from many angles.  Ya just never know what the fight will be.   Working the draw from this sheath needs to be done slowly until you get the feel for it.  Once you find the sweet spot of where your hand meets the sheath, this is a really fast drawing knife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.  Cost effective.  This blade is in an affordable price range.  It will not break the bank and you will not feel totally upset if you lose it/ditch it and have to get another. 

10.  Along the lines of being cost effective, there are a bunch of these out there.  If you needed to deposit it, there will not be any signature/special serial number for the uber limited edition that will be traced back to you or only 20 other people who own one.

Overall this blade is excellent for a small knife that is easily concealable, quick to access and is less than half the cost of blades sold for similar purposes.

http://www.onesourcetactical.com/search.aspx?find=wolfpup

US Palm Plate Carrier Shingles

 
The US Palm Hard Armor has been very popular and the entire first shipment sold in little over a week.  Soon thereafter US Palm sent us the magazine pouch shingles intended to go on that armor.

Made in singles, doubles, or triples, and in the usual tactical colors, ranger green, multicam, khaki tan and black.

This innovative design is specific to the Kalashnikov magazine family and accepts the cadillac AK30 magazine as well as steel european magazines and even magazines for the Czech VZ-58.

While they were designed with the AirSave Armor in mind, these shingles will also easily fit on any existing MOLLE system.

 

Learn more here

The Ultimate Kalashnikov Handguard System

 
The Kalashnikov rifle has become an icon in America.  As much as the Ar-15 crowd hates it, there have been more AK rifles (of varying grades) sold in the past two years than AR-15s.  The newstand publications focusing on the AK rifles have outsold those devoted to AR-15s by a wide margin.  Soon, we may see a high quality AK-esque rifle produced by SigArms.  And true "all US made", and high quality AK-47 platform rifles are on the horizon. 

I have been in the fortunate position of being asked by various industry groups to consult on the development of accessories for these great rifles.  Some of these include the cadillac AK-47 magazine, and the americanized pistol grip produced by US Palm.

Kalashnikov shooters all over the world have taken advantage of these developments and enhanced their AK platforms to a level of greater usability without bastardizing their rifles with M4 accessories.

One of the things we had discussed was the development of a good handguard system for these rifles.  The stock handguards are fine for protecting the hand from the barrel, but not for much else. What the modern shooter wants is this:

1).  Protection from heat.  Most handguards work adequately at this but the cooler the better. Even the vaunted heat shielded things from Bulgaria get pretty hot.

2).  The ability to add useful accessories.  Before you bring up that stupid Jpeg with the Chicom guy saying, "Keep that crap off my AK", reread the first sentence and focus on "useful". 

Useful would include a light mount that is ambidextrous in use regardless if running the rifle right handed or left handed.  It would include sling swivels that are positioned in better locations than the stock ones. It would also include VFGs for those who like them on their rifles. While I do not use a VFG, I recognize that they do have utility.  As well, the ability to add a CQB Optic is a very desirable addition to any rifle.

On that note, we are seeing smaller and smaller and stronger units than ever before.  To those who think red dot sights are a foolish addition to a weapon, I would reply that the red dot sights of today are often stronger than the rifles they are installed on.  Moreover, they will automatically improve your shooting. 

So anyone who wants to enhance their combat ability will take a serious look at them.  My prefernce is either the Aimpoint T-1 or the Trijicon RMR.  The RMR being considearbly smaller and lighter than the competition.

Up until now there has not been a handguard system that did everything and was sufficiently light to be considered.  There have been many attempts but sadly all of them have been over engineered with excessive girth, excessive weight, and over done with rails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enter the collaboration between US Palm and Midwest Industries.  When I got one I installed it on one of my Fuller Kalashnikovs.  Unlike the other units I examined recently, this one did not change the weight, balance, or feel of the rifle at all.  As well, the upper handguard had a nice carved out place for a Trijicon RMR.  20 minutes in the Armory and I had this entire unit installed.  I added some rail covers to protect my caveman hands, and ran a few magazines through the rifle.  The enhanced airflow served to keep the rifle very cool in comparison to the Arsenal handguards originally on the weapon.  Nice!

The Trijicon RMR gave me a solid cowitness capability with the AK's iron sights.  Another very nice touch that shows some solid thinking went into its design and execution.  Since we are working up a family of Low Light classes, I added one of our in-house Surefire X400s to the bottom rail.  This goes on like it was designed specifically to fit.  Moreover, it allows use of the light with the forearwd hand regardless of which side you are running the rifle.  This is a definite benefit over other flashlight platforms.

All in all, I really like this system and strongly recommend it for users of the kalashnikov platform that want to bring their rifle into the modern age.

 

 Get More Information here 

 

Red Dots On The MP & XD

TSD Red Dot Packages Now Available For The Smith & Wesson MP and Springfield XD pistols.

Technical Services Division of One Source Tactical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some More Images Of The TSD Guns

 
The Counter Terrorist Offensive Pistol - This gun has everything and is available in a Glock, XD, or M&P. It has a HRT ready trigger job, an RMR installed with suppressor sights and a threaded barrel ready for any can of your choice.  A Surefire X400 and a set of 33 round happy sticks rounds out the package.

 

 

 

 

Anyway you want it.  Sights forward, sights back, or no sights at all...red dot only.  And any read dot that you fancy to put on there, we can do it all.

 

Available in Olive Green, Coyote Tan, or Traditional Black.

 

One Source Tactical - Technical Services Division
1616 West Iron Springs Road
Prescott, AZ 86305
Ofc 928.776.4492
FAX 928.776.0515

TSD Pistol Packages - Now Available For More Than Just Glocks!!

 
One Source Tactical - Technical Services Division has been installing TSD packages on Glocks for quite a while.  Our technicians have done what many though could not be done.  Recently our staff was able to install the system on other popular pistol systems. In order to answer your questions, we have prepared an FAQ with regards to these TSD packages.

LED vs. Dual Illumination –  The dual illumination is only available from Trijicon.  On which one is better, well that depends on where you will be using the sights.  I have a colleague that is in Africa and his battery availability is slim so he opted for the Dual Illumination RMR Unit.  Here in the USA, where you can buy batteries everywhere, I prefer the battery powered LED version.  I find it is more consistent across varying light levels, and the battery life is about one year. 

The importance of the suppressor sights

– The suppressor sights do two things.  One is they shorten the learning/training curve dramatically.  Why? 

Because your eyes are accustomed to looking for the iron sights from years of dry and live work.  Thus the eyes will pick up the suppressor sights immediately and coincidentally the red dot as well.  We have seen this in our classes.  Students running just the red dot require a greater learning curve opposed to those running red dots in conjunction with suppressor sights.  Additionally, since anything man-made can fail, the suppressor sight provide a true co-witnessed backup system in the event the red dot fails.

What size dot do you recommend -

This is always a compromise.  We played with the smaller sized dots and while they were fine on rifles, what seemed to work best with the handguns was 7 MOA or larger.  The reason for this is on a rifle, you have two additional points of contact (shoulder and cheek) facilitating the visual identification of the dot.  On a handgun, you do not have that so a larger and easier to pick up dot works better for most people.  A 7 MOA dot translates as a 7 inch group on target at 100 yards.

Maintenance and care –

Virtually nothing.  I carried one of our TSD Glocks in the field during inclement weather and while the unit got dusty and dirty, it worked fine.  Maintenance is no different than you would use on the Aimpoint on your AR-15 or AK.

Commonly used holsters or way to carry – As long as your holster is cut down in front, as most tactical holsters are, your red dot equipped gun will fit.  We can point you to specific holsters for the red dot equipped holsters as well.

 
How durable – Well that depends on the unit chosen of course.  On my personal guns I am running Trijicon RMR red dots.  These are designed to be mounted on an M4 and dropped from shoulder height (onto the RMR) and retain zero.  They are more than tough enough for mere pistol usage.  While we will happily install Insights, Burris, J-Points, or Delta Points, these other sights may not be as robust as the Trijicon .

How long batteries last – Most of the red dot sights on the market today have similar battery life, and that is roughly for one year on constant “ON”.

Why choose this over standard sights

Standard sights are fine for many defensive problems, but as the shooter gets older, they are not as easy to use.  What many guys try to do then is install oversized sights, but then the problem is they cannot be indexed on target well. 

The red dot system does for the handgun what it has been doing for the rifle for many years.  It eliminates the need to keep rear sight, front sight, and target aligned, and the visual gymnastics that requires. 

As well the red dot allows you to index an very visible aiming point on any target you wish to hit under any lighting conditions from close range to as far as you can hold. 

 
The advantages and disadvantages of Front / Rear BUIS location – My personal preference is to install the BUIS (back up iron sights) in the traditional locations on the pistol slide.  The benefits to this are that the training/learning curve is considerably shortened.  Now, as far as for our technicians, it is considerably harder work to install the system that way.  The reason we do it that way is because it is a better system, easier to transfer over operationally from non-red dot sighted handguns and back.  The reason that the alternate installation (rear sight in front of the red dot sight) was invented was simply and purely to facilitate the job of the gunsmith.  Being capitalists, we will install the red dot sights anywhere you wish, and thus offer different packages, but the one you will see in the holsters of our staff is the BUIS in the traditional position.

How to get one installed (what do I send, where do I send it, etc). – That is easy. Some guns will require you sending us the slide (slide only please), other guns we will also have aftermarket slides already set up for the red dot system.  As well, various color finishes are available on the slides.

Turnaround times – Quicker than anyone else in the industry.

How much Real Estate is needed to mount one – That depends on the red dot unit you want to install. Thus far we can do Springfield XD, Smith & Wesson M&P, FN handguns, Glocks of all sizes, 1911s, and we are working on the HK and SIG systems.

 

Any required changes to normal handgun operations – Not at all.

Why the RMR was selected over other available Red Dot sights

Again, I want to mention that we will install any red dot sight you would like on your pistol.  But my preference based on research and testing is the Trijicon RMR. 

This is the best system available today, in my opinion, for a handgun and what I have in my holster. 

For clarity I will post why I deselected some of the other sights for my personal use –

J-Point:  They are polymer construction. They give a good clear dot and have a battery life of about two years. One issue is “waterproofness” . I was told that a little rain will not hurt the unit by the reps at the J-Point booth.  Not very encouraging.  The notch in the back is thought to be a back up sight.  It is not and any coincidence between dot and irons is pure happenstance.  Finally, it is now only available in 4 MOA. This may be easier to install on slides that have less real estate however.  The glass is not as clear nor is it as strong as the RMR in my opinion and experience.

Leupold DeltaPoint: In my opinion, overly complicated. There is a 7.0 MOA triangle whose edges seemed indistinct to me, or a too-small 3.5 MOA dot.  It has a wide easy to see through screen. And the small “footprint” might make it an easier marriage to a narrow slide.  The adjustments on the stern side of the unit make a traditional BUIS installation more complicated.  

Burris Fast Fire: What I don't like about this is the on - off switch. Gamesmen, whose pistols live in gun safes or in gun bags will love that feature but it is a potential death trap to a man whose gun lives in the holster.  In testing we had these “on-off” switches get turned off inadvertently.  If you opt for this unit, I strongly advise getting the traditional BUIS system.

Insight MRDS: They seemed less robust and more complicated than the Trijicon. The  manual dot adjustment is not necessary on something to go on a pistol. For this application any on-off, or adjustment is ill-advised. It has a good feature of top loading battery, but the footprint requires more room on the slide. The battery life on them is not as good as on the Trijicon.

The C-Mores I examined seemed to vary greatly in clarity and brightness. Something I attributed to battery at first but I was told by several sources that I trust that that is simply how they are...some come out really clear and bright...others not so much. That the clear and bright ones always seem to go to the gun writers and spec-ops people. That if true, is totally unsatisfactory as far as I am concerned.

Does milling the slide negatively affect endurance/reliability? – Not in my experience.  I have three guns set up like this with many thousands of rounds with no problems at all.  The easy thing for the undecided to do if they are running 1911 or Glocks is to opt for an aftermarket slide

What options do I have for sight? Anything you want to install on your slide we can do.  As I said, we think the Trijicon is the best unit out there, but if you would like something else we will not only provide it, but also install it for you.  For more information call the office and ask.

What happens when the sight gets wet?  Depending on the red dot unit.  With a Trijicon – Nothing.  We took the RMR equipped Glock and dunked it in a bucket of water, and then shot steel at 100 yards.  Other red dot sights may not have this level of water resistance.

Also, how much of an issue is fogging – We have not had any problems with fogging and we have travelled extensively with the RMR Glock this year to various time zones, climates, etc.

Warranty issues and procedures – TSD warranties our installation for workmanship.  If you go out of your way to break it (like hammering nails or dropping from a jet plane or something, its on you).  Each red dot manufacturer will have their own warranty. 

Field testing on larger calibers like full loads out of a G20. – We have installed these (Trijicons) on all models of Glocks including 10mm and 357 SIG.  Users have had no problems or issues.

One Source Tactical’s Technical Services Division offers three levels of red dot sight installation. 

Option One is the Red Dot sights and BUIS installed in the traditional manner (our choice). 

Option Two is the BUIS installed in front of the Red Dot sight. 

Option Three is Red Dot sight only and no BUIS.

These can be installed on Glock models, Springfield XDs, Smith & Wesson MP, FN Pistols, and 1911 systems.  Other weapon platforms are in development. The cost of installation depends on the red dot unit selected and the installation option.  Some weapons require more labor. 

Finally, the end package can be finished in black, olive drab green, or coyote tan.

Call us today to bring your handgun into the 21^st Century

One Source Tactical - 928.776.4492