The vz 58 is a very lightweight 7.62×39 carbine with a short-stroke piston action adopted by the Czechoslovak military in the late 1950s. The abbreviation “vz” stands for Vzor (model), the full name being Samopal Vzor 58 or Automatic Weapon Model 58. It was one of the first Czech arms to use the Soviet cartridge instead of the longer Czech 7.62x45mm round. Lighter than the AK-47 by 1.3 pounds despite a milled receiver, it used alloy magazines that weighed half as much as the steel AK-47 mags. Although similar in overall size to the AK, the slimmer pistol grip and stock make it look smaller. The rifle was exported to about 20 countries, mainly developing nations. With the 15.4-inch barrel extended to 16 inches with a shroud and semi-auto trigger group, it was imported to the US by Czechpoint USA of Knoxville, TN.

Warsaw Pact countries used the catchall term “avtomat” to describe both submachine guns and light automatic rifles. A technical term for “submachine gun” existed, but it wasn’t in common use. The doctrinal niche for the early automatic rifles was almost the same as for the pistol-caliber SMGs, so the vz 58 was designed more along the lines of an MP5 than of a SIG550. It’s handy in close quarters and accurate enough for intermediate ranges, but it had neither the accuracy nor the heat endurance of a mainline infantry rifle. Ironically, that made it better suited to civilian self-defense than the rifleman’s ideal rifle, such as the M14. Most defensive encounters happen up close, and few go beyond the first 30-round magazine.

The action design is similar to that of the Walther P38 or Beretta M9: a short-stroke piston acts on a bolt carrier, which actuates a locking block between it and the bolt. The lugs of the locking block engage with the rails machined inside the all-steel receiver. The mechanism works very well, with a very smooth and mild recoil impulse. A linear striker sleeve passes through the bolt carrier, in turn operating the firing pin. The entire receiver top opens during the ejection cycle, and empties are removed forward and slightly to the right by the fixed ejector on the receiver floor, making this rifle friendly to left-handed shooters. Nonetheless, the open nature of the receiver makes it more susceptible to the ingress of mud. The vz 58 is very suppressor friendly, despite the gas system without a manual regulator. The removable receiver cover also holds guide rods for the recoil spring and the striker spring.

The lightweight aluminum magazine, ribbed for strength, is externally similar to the AK mag. It holds 30 rounds and rocks in the same way, though with far less effort required for proper alignment with the receiver. With the action locked open after the last round or manually with the plunger near the trigger guard, the magazine may be topped off with stripper clips. While manual bolt hold-open is provided, bolt release requires the charging handle integral to the bolt carrier to be operated. An extended aftermarket part to add that functionality is available. The magazine may be safely used as a hand-hold, there’s absolutely no play in the lockup. Ten-round magazines are also available for bench shooting or use in restricted states.

The rifle was originally available in three variants: with a fixed, resin-impregnated wood stock, with a folding “wire” stock and with a collapsible stock and railed forend. Out of preference, I mainly used the fixed wood stock. Because of its short length of pull and relatively light weight, the carbine can be effectively run by 10-year-old kids. Felt recoil is very mild, below that of the heavier AK-47. The rotary safety is easy to reach, and left-handed shooters can activate it with thumbs.

As the rifle gained moderate popularity in the US, it became clear that it had shortcomings as well as advantages. The railed forend on the “tactical” version proved too unsteady for the red dot, and the variant overall was not a success. The rifle runs extremely cleanly and the receiver contains minimal carbon residue, even after several hundred rounds. However, the lightweight barrel and the operating system do impose tactical limitations, the most obvious being accuracy and heat endurance. The rifle can fire about 60 rounds in a row before the forend gets uncomfortably hot. For military use, that can be an issue, but it is an unlikely scenario in personal defense. With the stock iron sights, I and other shooters got groups around 5MOA with Comblock military surplus and Russian commercial ammunition, and about 4MOA with premium US and European brands, like Federal and Fiocchi. The constraint is almost certainly the sighting. The rear sight leaf may feature 100–800-meter markings as an exercise in optimism for single shots, but reflects the old military doctrine of creating beaten zones at long range using small arms.

With this in mind, Dan Brown started developing more Americanized variants of the vz 58. The 5.56mm model could use either flap-released Czech magazines made of tough transparent polymer or, with a pinned mag well adapter, button-released AR-15-compatible magazines. After comparing both options in use, I went with the rock and lock Czech design. While the 5.56mm version is slightly heavier than the 7.62mm, it is much more accurate at around 2MOA using a red dot on a side mount. The heavier barrel also stays cool much longer, offering heat endurance over 100 rounds. The barrel length is 16 inches, so threaded muzzle devices are available instead of the pinned parts required by the shorter barrel of the original. The vz 58 Classic model in 7.62mm was updated with the 16-inch Walther-made barrel also, improving its accuracy to the same 2MOA, although it’s difficult to achieve such a result with relatively short base open sights. The wooden furniture has been replaced with plastic of the same shape.

The ultimate development for today is the Elite model, a vz 58 with Magpul Zhukov furniture adapted from the AK-47. Adjustable and possessed of long heat-shielded forends, it makes the vz 58 into more of a rifle and less of a neutered semi-auto “avtomat.” On the newer models, the charging handle is moved to the left side for manipulation with the weak hand. The machined heat shields and the longer barrel with a flash hider raise the weight of this model to about even with an AK clone. Run with side-mounted quick-detachable optics, it makes 2MOA consistently viable in the field with hunting soft points or good-quality FMJ ammunition. In my use, Federal, Corbon and G2 defensive loads showed the best results.

My friend David Esche, an enthusiast of all things related to vz 58, discovered that the rifle can safely use hard cast bullets without shaving material into the gas port. With just a red dot sight, he achieved 2.5 to 3 MOA with the original milsurp barrel. Serious accuracy testing is limited by the scope mounting options: even the low side mount requires a raised cheekpiece, while a high mount permitting the use of iron sights puts even the small red dots too high for comfort. With a low scope mount and a compact optic, such as the Leupold 1.5-4x20mm, the vz 58 Elite can get down to 1.5MOA when fired from a rest, an impressive achievement considering the automatic origins of the design. Larger magnified scopes have too much offset from the boreline and from the cheek rest, so they are not very practical for field use. Running iron sights, the Elite model is better than the original thanks to the addition of a point-blank 50-meter setting, adding to the 100–800-meter markings. All vz 58s benefit from a fiber optic front sight insert from HiViz: the AK-marked part fits fine.

Another model made for California, New York and other such oppressed states is the ironically named vz 58 Liberty. Made with a fixed 10-round box magazine, it runs similarly to the SKS by using top loading from stripper clips. Unlike the SKS, it has very low felt recoil. The fixed magazine permits legal use of an adjustable stock and a flash hider. Stripper clip reloading, by the way, works with the regular detachable magazines as well. The bolt stays back on the last shot, which is another Czech advantage over the AK platform. The detachable magazine model can be converted to fixed magazine and back in about 10 minutes with simple tools.

The rifles feed soft point and hollow point ammunition reliably. So far, the best defensive loads I have found are the Corbon DPX, G2 Trident Ripout and Federal Powershock. All give substantial expansion–up to 0.9 inches with Trident–and 16 to 20 inches of gel penetration. The vz 58 Classic had no flash hider and still produced minimal illumination with these loads. The Elite models come with very effective birdcage flash hiders that cut visible muzzle signature almost to zero.

The vz 58 Elite excels where the Ruger Mini-30 failed, becoming an accurate and handy .30 caliber carbine for short-range use. My subjective judgement is that it handles better than the 805 Bren, which replaced the vz 58 in Czech military service. It’s one of the most pleasant intermediate cartridge rifles for range use, and I recommend it for self-defense or short-range hunting.

In the trenches along the frontlines of World War I, any look over the parapet could be the last one. On both sides snipers were waiting for their next victim. But how should one observe a target without exposing himself to this danger? The supposed solution came in the form of periscopes.

Thanks to these devices it was possible for the soldier to aim with the standard rifle sight, but without raising his head above the safe cover of the trench. Probably every participating nation tried to develop such devices, and some of the better designs were then manufactured industrially in (small) series.

When the United States of America entered the war, two inventors were just about to market such a device: James L. Cameron and Lawrence E. Yaggi, both from Cleveland in the northeast of Ohio, were well informed about the circumstances and dangers at the European theatre of war. Their idea consisted of a metal frame, resting on the shooter’s shoulder and raising the rifle over his head. Bolt and trigger could be manually operated by means of a lever mechanism. A simple periscope was attached to the rear of the device to aim over rear and fore sights of the rifle.

Cameron and Yaggi were able to complete a working prototype before America’s entry into the war. They travelled to Europe and visited British and French troops at the front. Although both nations experimented with such devices themselves, the American device left a very good impression. Yaggi reported that the German soldiers were searching for sunlight reflections from enemy trench periscopes and then waited for a careless soldier to expose his head. The “Cameron-Yaggi,” as the device was called in the absence of a model designation, would help to remedy this situation.

With many suggestions for improvements and their heads filled with ideas, both gentlemen returned to America. They immediately began to rework their invention. But shortly after their arrival at home, the United States entered the war in April 1917. Cameron and Yaggi realized that the U.S. Army would soon need such an aiming device. In order to convince the military decision-makers, an adaptation to the then-standard rifle M1903 (.30 caliber) was indispensable. A first, contact with the Ordnance Department led to the realization that there was no interest in military accessories, which would require a permanent modification of the weapons. This specification, however, played into the hands of Cameron and Yaggi, as their design required only the removal of the stock screws for attaching the mount of the periscope to the left side of the rifle stock. This conversion could be reversed quickly and left no lasting traces on the rifles.

The Cameron-Yaggi is a relatively simple design made of metal tubing, similar to the frame of a bicycle. Over the months several more or less different variations were produced, and no two of the today existing devices are actually identical. The rifle is placed into the framework from above, so that the butt stock is supported at its rear by a suitably shaped piece of sheet metal. A screw clamp around the neck of the stock holds the gun firmly in its position. Some parts of the framework were wrapped with leather padding. The shooter had to grasp the device firmly with both hands. A standing position with no support was possible, but using the parapet of the trench as a support increased the hit probability considerably. The left hand of the shooter held the fixed front grip. The trigger of the device, which was connected to the trigger of the rifle by means of a rod assembly, was operated with the right hand.

One major difficulty of rifle periscope devices was the procedure of feeding the next round. The cocking handle of a bolt-action rifle had to be operated manually from cover in order to extract the empty case and to feed a new round into the chamber. There were no self-loading rifles in active front-line service at that time. And it would not have been practical to retract the bulky periscope device into the trench after each shot to reload the rifle and then push the device back into position. Cameron and Yaggi, therefore, designed a side-mounted frame that could slide back and forth. The cocking handle of the rifle was clamped into a mount at the top of this frame. Below, the framework had its own cocking handle, and both were connected with a rod to transfer the movements. In order to increase the weapon’s sustained fire capability, the special 25-round extension box magazine of the Air Service M1903 could be attached to the weapon. However, this was a fixed magazine, and it remained permanently on the weapon.

On the left side of the rifle a dovetail mount was attached. The periscope, inserted into this mount, could be easily removed for transport at any time. This optical device was named “Sightascope” by its inventors and proved surprisingly precise: during a demonstration of the device in front of Ordnance Department representatives, 10 rounds were fired at a target at 200 yards (180 meters) distance. The dispersion was only 1.3 inches (33cm). Windage and elevation could be adjusted by two rotary-type knobs. The still-existing devices show marks from 1X to 4X, suggesting experiments with different magnifications. However, all have the same cross-hair reticules. The lens is recessed in the housing to reduce sunlight reflections, which notoriously attracted the attention of enemy snipers.

At first glance, the bulky Cameron-Yaggi device looks very heavy, but it actually weighs only about 6 pounds (2.8kg). The total weight together with a Springfield M1903 was 14.7 pounds (6.7kg). And it was not meant for movement during combat or longer marches. Rather, it should be used in static positions in the front line trenches.

After a few changes to the design, Yaggi was able to demonstrate the periscope device at the Marine Corps Rifle Range in Winthrop/Maryland in summer of 1917. One of the spectators, Colonel C.B. Winter, tried the device by himself and wrote a small report. He was expecting a hard recoil because of the powerful cartridge. But he was mistaken—the recoil was much less than firing a round with the standard rifle. The framework of the device absorbed most of the recoil force.

After the successful demonstration, Cameron and Yaggi were at that time confident that their invention would soon be accepted by the Ordnance Department. They even designed variants for the M1917 rifle and the air-cooled Lewis light machine gun. But unfortunately nothing happened. The department let the matter rest, until the war finally ended in November 1918.

But other similar devices were still far less successful and did not even get shortlisted. Like the invention of Mr. Guiberson from California. He did not design a bulky frame for holding a rifle, but integrated the periscope device into the weapon itself. The cost of the conversion was enormous and was completely in contradiction with the specifications of the Ordnance Department. But the result was a very well thought-out design. When collapsed, the “Guiberson Rifle” hardly differed from the standard M1903 rifle. If necessary, the rear half of the specially modified stock could be unlocked and folded down. This part is connected to the system by means of a robust support which rests in the hollow stock when not in use. The support is pulled out automatically during the unfolding and thus stabilizes the weapon in the combat-ready condition. In addition, a small mirror is attached to its base. The soldier can look through an elongated opening within the support at a second mirror at the top of the support and thus on the rear and fore sights. For firing, the trigger of the rifle is used, but nevertheless the hand of the shooter still remains below the parapet of the trench. Apart from the M1903, Guiberson also converted a few M1917 rifles. He also experimented with hollowed-out wooden stocks as well as in combination with stock sections made of sheet metal. At least one converted M1917 was made with a small folding support and got a separate periscope attached to its left side.

A short report written by Captain Edward C. Crossman in April 1917 about a demonstration of the Guiberson rifle at the Ordnance Department gives us some insight: “The upper mirror is carried by a detachable but still out of the way steel bar, which slides into a slot cut in the receiver on the left side. Gazing in the bottom mirror of the rifle periscope, you see merely the two sights, the target and say 30 feet of field at 200 yards. The curious ones present at the trials, had no trouble in swatting regularly the silhouette at 200 yards, although the too-narrow service sight is still worse with this form of sighting apparatus. Queerly enough there is little kick […]. The shape of the grip portion is not quite right, and several of us got nice raised and purple spots on the forehead from contact with this. Avoiding this, the rifle seemed to kick but little; less than the direct drive of the regular arm.”

How many Cameron-Yaggis and Guibersons were produced at the time is not known. Today there are still a few surviving pieces in museums and private collections. However, they were never able to prove their suitability in the hard daily life of the trench warfare.

Thanks to curator Alex MacKenzie (Springfield Armory NHS) for his support.

The Battle Royale Comes Down to SIG & Glock, SIG Takes the Day!

“We are not talking about nuclear subs or going to the moon here. We are talking about a pistol.”
General Mark Milley, US Army Chief of Staff, complaining to the House Armed Services Committee in 2016 about the $17 million, two-year MHS competition process.

Soon after the billowing clouds of nitrocellulose fog from a full year of grueling formal tests and soldier evaluations cleared at the end of 2016, the Army announced selection of SIG SAUER’s modified P320 as its new Modular Handgun System. The best of a reported dozen rivals hoping to replace the worn out warhorse Beretta M9, this polymer-framed, striker-fired, innovatively modular pistol emerged seemingly victorious.

Formal Announcement

“The US Army awarded the Modular Handgun System (MHS) contract on January 19, 2017 to Sig Sauer, Inc. The caliber of the weapon is 9mm, and the XM17 MHS handgun is a variant of the Sig Sauer model P320. It is ‘Coyote Brown’ in color and has interchangeable hand grips and is ambidextrous allowing the user to tailor the ergonomics to best fit their hands and optimize their performance. The contract allows the Army and other services to procure Sig Sauer’s proposed XM1152 Full Metal Jacket, XM1153 Special Purpose ammunition and training rounds; their proposed full size and compact variants of the MHS; and ancillary components. The contract ceiling is $580M which is sufficient to procure Army requirements, other service requirements, and potential Foreign Military Sales requirements.”—US Army MHS Contract Award announcement

Predictably, this sent hordes of heavily armed pistol partisans rushing to man the bulletin boards for Glock and SIG, firing off fusillades supporting or condemning the Army’s decision. While a lively debate, this had about zero chance of swaying the Army’s decision.

But what quickly emerged from Glock’s USA headquarters did. Although fresh from winning the almost equally prestigious $85 million FBI pistol contract, Glock’s executives were understandably unhappy with what they considered unfairly losing this multi-million dollar opportunity; perhaps diminishing the prestige and some of the multi-national military, law enforcement and civilian market sales the firm has long been enjoying.

Protest March

Alleging a veritable catalog of errors and slights in the highly formalized administrative and evaluation process, Glock’s detailed protest wisely zeroed in on supporting real combat soldiers. “By not completing the testing on both proposals [by SIG and Glock] on a competitive basis, the Army never determined which pistol would better meet the warfighter’s needs,” said Josh Dorsey, VP of GLOCK, Inc.

But bureaucrats and lawyers at the General Accountability Office backed the Army. “Overall, despite the evaluation errors uncovered in the course of this protest, we have no basis to conclude that Glock would have a substantial chance at an award,” wrote Susan A. Poling, General Counsel. “Even when the errors are considered together, we find no prejudice to Glock. The protest is denied in part and dismissed in part.” (Search “GAO Glock decision” for a fascinating look at the whole 17 pages of classic government legalese.)

Over and Out

Based on results of an IOT&E (Initial Operational Test and Evaluation) that had been proceeding separately from the legal fight, the Army followed-up with a public relations announcement that delivered a virtual coup de grace to Glock’s effort.

Army News Service release, 20 Jul 17: Soldiers have many reasons to be excited about the new Sig Sauer modular handguns, which the Army will begin fielding in November, said Lt. Col. Steven Power, product manager of Soldier Weapons.

Testing of the modular handgun system, or MHS, this spring by Soldiers at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback, Power said, and 100-percent concurrence that the XM17 was an upgrade over the M9.

In this case, all of the Soldiers who tested the handgun said the MHS was more comfortable to shoot, and they had better confidence with it, Power said.

Cynics may be excused for observing that most soldiers would rate most any shiny new pistol an improvement over the 30-year-old M9; its reputation sullied by the Army’s lowest bidder magazines.

Assuming SIG’s M17 makes it safely through “Production Verification” (can SIG make ‘em well enough and fast enough at the same time), that seems to be it for “Big Army,” on track to deliver the first 2,000 in November to Screaming Eagles of the legendary 101st Airborne Division. This is to be followed by some 193,000 more, Army-wide over the next several years.

With a generous $580 million ceiling on the 10-year contract award, there’s plenty of room for others to climb on the bandwagon.
Indeed, in presentations at NDIA’s 2017 Armaments Conference, representatives of all major branches of the US Armed Forces signaled they were going to replace, at some point, their current handgun inventories with new SIGs; some sooner than others. USAF wants 130,000, Navy 61,000, and a certain group of traditionally amphibious warriors might eventually buy 35,000 but has more important things to do right now with their badly wounded weapons budget.

Snake Eaters

Meanwhile, US Special Operations Command seems perfectly happy with all its various Glocks. The Army part of this–Green Berets, Rangers and Night Stalkers–has announced plans to field nearly 12,000 new Glock 19s with red-dot sights and tactical lights in its Family of Low-Visibility and Concealable Pistols for covert carry.

But not to worry, all the other SPECOPS components say they’ll likely begin integrating SIG M17 and M18 pistols a couple of years down the road. Assuming, of course, their very justifiably opinionated “users” concur with this phase-in. (Who’s gonna be make macho MARSOC operators surrender their high speed M1911 .45s or steely-eyed SEALS toss their Glock G9s overboard?)

Sighting in on SIG

So, the US Armed Forces Modular Handgun System is SIG’s M17 and M18, both in 9x19mm NATO caliber. Perpetuating this relatively puny cartridge is a bitter pill to many advocates of the venerable .45ACP cartridge, but made more palatable by the prospect of pumping out Winchester’s wickedly effective XM1153 “Special Purpose” hollow points. If the Pentagon’s notoriously liberal lawyers will allow …. (Calling Colonel Hays Parks to come out of retirement and rescue real warfighters once again).

Now, as painstakingly discovered from research in a number of authoritative sources and seen in the accompanying studio photos that SIG kindly provided, we offer some RKI observations.

Meaningful differences between the already quite nicely modular civilian 320 family–the NRA’s 2016 Handgun of the Year–and the military M17/M18 include an ambidextrous thumb safety, loaded chamber indicator, orange tritium in its metal sights, a cover plate atop the slide for later installation of a red-dot sight, dust shield in the trigger opening, anti-corrosion coating for the fire control module (SIG calls it a “frame assembly”) and an RFID chip. That’s pretty much it.

Some lesser points are overall “Coyote Brown” finish and two annoying “pin spanner” screws the Army reportedly insisted on to keep GIs from taking it apart more than allowed. (Hint: Small needle nose plier points do the trick).

If you’re curious as to why the Army wants its MHS in two sizes, the smaller M18 is slated to replace all those M11s (SIG P228) that some special type units have for concealed carry.

It’s a testament to the original 320’s excellent design and performance characteristics that this is all that was needed to meet solicitation specs and to excel in the ensuing torture tests. While the Army seemingly considers the test regimen to be Top Secret, it undoubtedly included dropping, drowning, sanding, salting, beating, baking, freezing, marathon firing and worse.

Building Blocks

“Modularity” was baked-in the borderline-absurd 350-page original solicitation. SIG has it; Glock not so much.

While the Glock entry boasts interchangeable backstraps for different sized hands, SIG includes three different sizes of grip frame modules that come with each pistol. All that’s needed to swap ‘em out (once the damnable pin spanner is defeated) is to remove the serial-numbered fire control module and install it in the desired grip module. A task about as challenging as opening an MRE.
Because their grip modules are the same Compact version, the standard SIG M17 becomes the stubbier M18 just by swapping the regular slide and barrel for the shorter ones. Need a red dot sight? A Leupold Delta Point Pro just happens to fit perfectly in that hole on top of the slide (and it may emerge the winner in a separate contracting effort). Tac light and laser? The Army’s got plenty already, and any other that grabs tight on the grip module’s Picatinny Rail is good to go.

Non-lethal force-on-force training? There’s UTM’s kit with marker rounds. Need to use a suppressor? Install a threaded barrel on either model and screw on the can. 9mm not doin’ the job even with JHP? Power up with a caliber conversion kit (not now approved by the Army but certainly available if needed).

Consolation Prize

While we weren’t able to test an XM17 for evaluation, they did send us the closest cousin; a nice little P320RX Compact, complete with blazing hot Foxtrot 1 tactical light. This allowed us and several other lucky shooters the opportunity for plenty of live fire drills under various conditions. In all, we went through about 800 rounds of various 9mm ball and JHP types including steel case, aluminum case, subsonic and even some interesting “cold tracer” loads. No problems were encountered.

P320RX COMPACT TECH SPECS

Caliber: 9 x 19mm NATO (Luger)
Action: Striker-fired, semi-automatic, recoil-operated, tipping barrel locking
Feed: Standard 15-rd. detachable steel magazine, higher-capacity available
Trigger: Double-action only, 6.5lbs. pull
Barrel: 3.9in. 6 grooves, right twist
Overall length: 7.2in
Height: 6.1in
Weight: 25.8oz
Sights: SIGLITE Tritium front and rear, co-witness with Romeo 1 holographic red dot
Materials: Polymer grip frame, stainless steel slide and trigger frame module, carbon steel barrel
Finish: Matte Black Nitron
Notes: Modular design with choice of interchangeable size grip frames, slides, barrels, caliber conversion
MSRP: $1,040 SIG SAUER, Inc., Exeter, New Hampshire, USA www.sigsauer.com

We Report, You Decide

Much has been made of the assertion that the paltry per-unit cost of pistols in SIG’s XM17 bid is approximately $207. Certainly a bargain-basement price, but will it be the best value in the long run?

Glock doesn’t think so, as evident in a press release at the time: “In fact, Sig Sauer was awarded the MHS contract prematurely based on price.”

While SIG’s M17 is roaring down the track to be US Armed Forces Standard, Glock fans have plenty of reasons for pride and optimism. As previously mentioned, they’re the handguns of choice for USSOCOM, the FBI and plenty of other LE entities, as well as mucho military worldwide.

And we may even see Glock winning the contract to arm all components of the sprawling US Department of Homeland Security. Game on!

Parting Shot

With the tantalizing likelihood of ODCMP selling US military surplus M1911 .45s, will Uncle Sam eventually hold a clearance sale for all those hundreds of thousands of now-obsolescent Beretta M9 pistols? Oh, and SIG M11s too?

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Special thanks to SIG for the loaner 320RX, all those great things seen in the studio photo setups and for providing essential pictures including the M17 and M18 MHS. sigsauer.com Also, to TTAC USA for building a perfect custom carry and competition holster for the RX with light. ttacusa.com And thanks to Blue Ridge Arsenal for Southern hospitality and generous range time. blueridgearsenal.com

A Veteran’s Report on the SIG P320RX

Talking with Range Safety Officer Colin Bruguiere

23-year-old Colin Bruguiere, our primary pistol tester for this feature, works part-time as a Range Safety Officer at Blue Ridge Arsenal’s Ashland, Virginia, location while attending a local university.

He’s a Marine Corps veteran of a combat deployment in 2013 in Afghanistan’s hotly contested Helmand Province as an MOS 0311 Infantryman in Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment; he spent most of the time as an M27 Squad Auto Rifleman with the “door kickers and trigger pullers” of the Heliborne Interdiction Force, a rapid reaction asset for a variety of critical tasks.
Following our extensive live fire test and photo session on BRA’s excellent indoor ranges, we sat down with Bruguiere to get his impressions from his first time shooting the SIG P320RX Compact.

SAR: Along with the Corps’ M9s, what handguns have you had experience with?

Colin Bruguiere: Primarily SIG’s because we sell a lot of different ones here. I’ve been carrying this 9mm 320 full size now for several months. The Beretta PX4 series, 1911 style .45s like Springfield, various Rugers, Smith M&Ps. Anything we’ve got or when somebody says, “you wanna shoot this?” I used to carry a Glock 43; nice and small. I chose the SIG over a Glock or an M&P–and I’ve seen this for other people–because out of the box it shoots like I want it to. I feel like I could go out and shoot a competition with this stock 320 and do pretty well.

SAR: How about the Army’s new M17?

CB: (Studying photos of the pistol) The thing that gives me pause about the M17 is the thumb safety. Because, like with the M9, you have to train and train to draw and take that thumb safety off as soon as it clears the holster. What’s the point of having it? I like the SIG’s double-action-only trigger. Also, the three grip sizes to fit a wider range of hands.

SAR: Overall fit and finish of the 320RX Compact we shot?

CB: Well made, looks good, shoots well, fits in the hand (medium grip installed) pretty solid. Polymer frame can still take a beating. Looking at the removable stainless steel trigger group (SIG calls it the frame assembly), they haven’t over-engineered the thing but come damn close (laughs).

SAR: How did the Compact size test pistol handle in shooting?

CB: Because it’s a relatively lightweight pistol, there’s a tendency to have to force it back in place when kicking off a triple tap, even with the full size; the best balanced because of the longer barrel and slide. But in the rapid fire drills for the test and photos, I didn’t feel like it was going everywhere. Maybe the weight of the tactical light up front helped.

SAR: How about the sights? Not only the red dot Romeo 1, but also the backup iron sights.

CB: I like the SIGLITE Tritium night sights already installed as standard on the RX version. Bright in low light. Because they’re taller, they co-witness with the red dot. And there’s probably a clear path when SIG’s new low-profile suppressor is in place.

SAR: How about iron sight shooters getting used to that red dot. Do you have to retrain your brain?

CB: I think it’s a one-magazine training exercise. You shoot a couple rounds and see “OK that’s where I’m hitting with the red dot.” You pick up on it pretty quickly. One of the things about the red dot I was really impressed with was when we were shooting through all that fog machine smoke, the red dot came through. I like the Romeo’s wide field of view, variable brightness and size of the red dot. It’s sturdy enough to hit with the web of your hand for fast cocking. Or in a one-handed scenario maybe you can push it against your gear or your boot to cock it.

SAR: Any likes or dislikes in the loading and make-ready sequence?

CB: Over the M9, the SIG’s mag release protrudes a little more, making it easier to quickly hit. Even with cold fingers or bulky gloves. You can switch it to the other side if you’re a lefty. And if a gritty magazine doesn’t want to drop, those cuts at the base of the grip are nice for pulling it out.

SAR: Stripping, cleaning, reassembly?

CB: I’d say the SIG, the Glock and the M9 are all pretty close in ease of stripping down. Simple, no issues. No hard to get to places inside to clean.

SAR: Suggestions for making it better?

CB: I haven’t had any issues slapping in a new mag, but maybe beveling inside the opening to the mag well? I think the Army version has a loaded chamber indicator. Other than that, they’ve pretty much covered the bases.

SAR: When it came down to the wire there were two M17 MHS contenders: SIG and Glock. Do you think the Army made the right choice?

CB: Absolutely, I think they made a fantastic choice.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Special thanks to the fine folks at Blue Ridge Arsenal for shutting down an entire shooting bay in their state-of-the-art facility for several hours to accommodate our live-fire test and photo session. blueridgearsenal.com

When practicing shooting skills, most shooters aim at the bullseye, striving for tight groups, and leave the range believing they are adequately skilled to defend themselves. Sadly, few properly practice the skills necessary to stop an opponent and win in a gunfight. There is a difference between target practice and self-defense shooting.

Target practice is all about hitting the bullseye under range conditions in a non-stress environment. The opposite is true in real-world, self-defense scenarios where grouping and score don’t matter much. Self-defense shooting focuses on hitting a dinner-plate-sized center of mass on the first shot from the ready position in a life and death gunfight, under all environmental and lighting conditions. What does this really mean and how does one practice the necessary gun skills on the range to win in a real-world gunfight? The answer is twofold.

The first phase of the solution requires building total familiarity with the gun(s) you intend to use for defense. The objective of this first phase is to develop “muscle memory.” We’ll define muscle memory as becoming so familiar with a particular firearm, or firearms, that you no longer have to think about how to operationally use them. You should be completely familiar with its “feel” and operating it; e.g., wearing/carrying, drawing, acquiring the target, pointing it on target, firing it and reloading it when necessary.

This can be accomplished at home—no range time is necessary. For example, if you’re using a handgun for carry, you should begin by repetitively practicing (for hours), wearing the holstered gun, drawing from your carry holster, pointing it on target, dry-firing at dinner plate-sized (12-inch center of mass) targets, along with regular magazine changes or revolver speed loading drills. It should go without saying, but obviously you’ll want to use snap caps in your weapons for your dry fire drills.

A technique employed by many gunfighters is to use 12-inch paper plates as practice targets. Why? A 12-inch plate, if held against one’s chest, covers the human body’s vital organ center of mass. It is anywhere within this specific area where the first and second shot (in a double tap) should be placed. Paper plates can be easily taped chest-high to a wall or other furniture around the house or stapled to tree branches outdoors for dry firing practice. These are the practice targets you should use to develop muscle memory.

Particular attention should be given to maneuvering and shooting (dry fire) around the house at these center of mass plate targets, rehearsing your movement on a predetermined path to counter the threat to yourself and/or others. A number of liberal states, for example, have “retreat laws” that require a home defender to retreat within his home until he can retreat no further before engaging an intruder. Right or wrong, this means you cannot open fire, unless fired upon, by the armed intruder who has just broken down your door, without first retreating to a place within your home where you can retreat no further. Only then can you legally engage your assailant (and win in the ensuing court battle you will surely face).

So—in the above scenario, preplanning various routes to the retreat location where you will make your stand and rehearsing that route with the weapon(s) you will be using at the ready is vitally important. Tape the center of mass plates on the walls at your critical defense points along the way, point on those targets as you move and dry fire. Conduct this practice drill often and do it under various lighting scenarios to become familiar with your flashlight and/or night sights. Practice your movement exactly as you intend to move when defending yourself.

There is another distinction that needs definition and understanding—the difference between concealment and cover. “Concealment” simply means you’re concealed or hiding behind something so your opponent can’t readily see you. That could be something like a sofa, a door or even a thin inside room wall. All of these examples provide concealment but not cover.

“Cover” can also provide concealment, but cover also protects you from bullets. Cover will save your life in a gunfight, concealment won’t if your opponent happens to see you. Therefore, as you plan your egress route to the point where you intend to make your stand(s), seek out location(s) that will protect you from penetrating fire. A single drywall (drywall/2×4 stud construction common in newer homes) will not provide cover unless you can stand behind several wall thicknesses.

These techniques should also be rehearsed outdoors in and around cars in a parking lot scenario, as well as your driveway parking, or garage-parking scenario. In these cases you’re using the vehicle’s engine block and transmission for cover, engaging your opponent from the front, back or side of your automobile as necessary. You’ll be shooting through windows and windshields, around and beneath the vehicles with the goal of exposing as little of yourself as you can to your opponent(s)—using the vehicle for concealment and cover. Again, this can be done by taping paper plates, representing your opponents’ vital area center of mass, as targets at various locations around your parking area. Practice, drawing, pointing on them and dry firing. Practice identifying and retreating to a cover position where you can engage your opponent(s).

Always be aware of what’s downrange beyond your targets. This is important in practicing your field of fire. Liability resulting from lethal collateral damage from gunfire that misses its target, or completely penetrates it and keeps on going, falls squarely upon you as the shooter. Wherever possible, plan and practice your dry fire drills with the downrange impact area in mind.

Some of these techniques can be practiced at an indoor range and employ live fire, but instead of using traditional bullseye targets, use paper plates. Hang them chest high. If the range safety rules permit, practice drawing and shooting a double tap (two fast consecutive shots) at your paper plates, aiming for the center of mass. Punching holes anywhere within the plate’s 12-inch diameter is completely acceptable accuracy for gun fighting.

Many ranges will not allow a shooter to practice by drawing a holstered firearm. Rather, they strictly require that once loaded, the firearm be placed on the shooting bench in front of the shooter and not be picked up until ready to shoot at the target. Restrictions like this greatly reduce the effectiveness of practicing your self-defense shooting skills and provide little more than firearm familiarity (“feel”). Even so, you can practice by gripping and holding the gun at the ready, pointing the gun downrange, raising it on target and firing at a center of mass (paper plate) target. Double tap if permitted. Return to the ready position and repeat these steps. As you can see, this is very different from target shooting.

This brings us to the second phase; developing and practicing your “full mission profile” or FMP for short. The FMP was more or less already suggested in the preceding discussion. Regardless, your gun fighting practice should be based on FMPs. You should therefore develop a different day/night FMP for every conceivable scenario you might encounter; e.g., walking to/from your car, into/from your home, or apartment, awakened by an intruder while in your bedroom, while watching TV, seated at the dinner table or while at work (if you carry there) or sitting in your car at a red light, etc. The FMP should factor your immediate defensive reply and then rapid movement to a covered defensive stand location. All of these require FMP muscle memory practice. The objective is to be able to move and shoot as necessary without having to question direction or firearm operation.

This level of familiarity will give you a clear edge in a gunfight. You will already know what you intend to do. You’ve rehearsed it dozens of times in and around the locations you frequent. You know what you will do next, and you’re mentally prepared to do it. This will greatly reduce your confusion when you’re in a life threatening, overwhelmingly stressful scenario. It will allow you time to make rational decisions and engage your target effectively vice wildly, or worst case, not at all because you’ve frozen. Most importantly, it will greatly reduce your margin of error and increase your chances of survival.

To a lesser extent, the second phase also involves the weapon(s) you intend to use. Your choice of carry and home defense weapons is critically important because they are most often not the same weapon. All too many times people make the wrong choices—choices that complicate their ability to defend themselves in a gunfight scenario. Bigger is not necessarily better. If you have a small hand and a small body, choosing a 12-gauge auto-loading shotgun with rifled slugs for home defense or a 1911 .45 pistol for personal carry are probably not good choices. Better choices might be a 20-gauge pump action shotgun with 00 buck shot and a Smith and Wesson .357 model 340 revolver—both simple to operate and maintain, and they are very lethal.

Your choice of firearms should be based on commonsense and purposeful analysis of your operating environment and your shooting acumen. If you live in a vinyl-sided condo or a row home built with drywall/frame construction, you must take into account the wall penetration capability of the firearm you intend to use for home defense. Almost all handgun and rifle rounds (to include shotgun rifled slugs) will easily pass through drywall and frame constructed walls and continue on through your next-door neighbor’s walls.

The objective is to stop a lethal threat against you and/or your family without killing your neighbor in the process. Shooting shotgun shotshells instead of rifled slugs and hollow points or frangible bullets instead of jacketed ammunition in your rifles and handguns is a considerate and responsible choice for self-defense, as these projectiles will likely not keep going after they strike an object, yet they provide ample stopping power.

Another important element is the size and weight of the firearm you choose. Always go with a weapon that feels “right” to you. Ergonomics are key to accurate shooting so if the weapon feels awkward or otherwise doesn’t feel right, don’t use it for home defense. Whatever firearm(s) you choose for self-defense should feel like an extension of your body and should be mechanically uncomplicated enough so that you can confidently operate it in a life threatening scenario during the heat of the day or in the dark, cold and wet.

Many such weapons have accessory rails (Picatinny Rails) that are customarily loaded with expensive lights, tritium night sights, spotting lasers, night vision and thermal devices. This stuff looks cool, but it is largely useless in a home defense scenario. Plain and simple, it is no substitute for honed muscle memory. The best advice is to keep everything as simple as you can. Don’t complicate a simple gun by adding complicated “cool” stuff to its rails.

The same is not true for the firearms you might take target shooting or hunting (or carry in a combat or law enforcement scenario). Target shooting, as stated previously, is a very different game than self-defense shooting, and the two do not have interchangeable practice scenarios. Target shooting is largely an “administrative” activity where score counts. You strive to shoot small groups or break a perfect round of clays. You know what your target is and where it is in advance (or where it’s coming from and going to) and when you’re going to shoot it. Mental preparation is as necessary as the choice of firearms.

Target shooting is largely done indoors or under ideal outdoor environmental conditions on a formal range with distinct field of fire restrictions. Where outdoor environmental conditions are less than optimal, the shooter wears protection against the elements. The stress one may feel when target shooting results from competition, not from trying to survive a life and death gunfight—again, the two are very different.

Finally, it is true in all things that practice makes perfect. Target shooting and self-defense shooting are different. The difference in the two is in the firearms used and how the practice is conducted and accomplished. Aimed tight groups under ideal range conditions won’t win gunfights. Precipitously placing a round or two into your opponent’s center of mass does. How well you prepare yourself for a gunfight is up to you.

A new ammunition bag called the “Balanced Ammunition Delivery System” (BADS) is poised to revolutionize combat deployment of the MAG58 (US M240) and MG3 machine guns. Although these machine guns have been around for more than 60 years, there has never been a good way to feed them because they eject fired cases from the bottom. Feeding solutions have been limited to ammunition boxes hung far out on the left side of the gun to avoid impact with ejected fired cases. The offset load makes the gun unwieldy and difficult to control. It’s not unlike trying to steer a small boat with all the passengers sitting on one side and continually shifting their weight. These unwieldy bags have never been user friendly, so the best solution to date has been to provide the machine gunner with an assistant to hand feed in the linked belts.

Like ammunition boxes of the past, the BADS connects to the machine gun’s box mounting features located on the left side of the weapon, but the similarities end there. Unlike the old boxes, the BADS cradles the ammunition directly under the ejection port. From a weapon handling standpoint, it’s an ideal location for the 100 to 125 rounds of linked ammunition as the weight is located precisely on the gun’s center of gravity. Fired cases and links impact the top of the BADS but are directed out and to the right by a metal deflector plate located above the stored ammunition. Older ammunition boxes were never very popular because they continually jabbed the shooter’s mid-section which made the gun uncomfortable to carry and maneuver, but the underslung BADS does not have this problem.

“Why has it taken so long to develop an ammunition box with the weight of the ammunition along the gun’s CG,” you ask? It’s primarily because bottom ejecting guns are very fussy about anything blocking the path of ejected brass and links. Whenever the bottom of the machine gun gets close to the ground, a rock or the deck of a vehicle or ship, it will eventually result in a fired case bouncing back up through the ejection port to cause a malfunction called a “spinback.” The gun will be firing normally, then come to an abrupt halt. The operator finds a mangled case in the action, but he cannot positively attribute the stoppage as a fired case that suddenly bounced its way back up into the operating mechanism. For this reason, a spinback stoppage is hard to identify without high speed photography.

You might expect the design of an ammunition box to be a simple task. It is not. Linked ammunition does not like to be folded against itself. The round tips from one row have a bad habit of finding their way in between the tips of the rounds in the adjacent row. Put your palms together and interlock your fingers slightly, then try to slide your palms apart. See what I mean? When this happens in an ammunition storage system, a feed jam—or at minimum a feed hesitation—occurs. Unlike other storage systems for linked ammunition, BADS has no separators or other provision to prevent this. I have witnessed thousands of rounds fired through numerous design evolutions of the BADS, and there was never even a hint the ammo wasn’t feeding smoothly.

Considering how easily linked ammunition can jam during feeding, it’s quite surprising how little effort is required to load the BADS. The inventor, Mr. Joe Moody, told me he spent a lot of time working out the size and shape of his ammo box for ease of loading and jam prevention. It was a significant design challenge to determine the correct shape and angle of the deflection plate. I timed the bag being loaded several times. It never took the loader more than 10 seconds, regardless of whether he was standing, kneeling or in a crouched position.

The deflection plate serves another important purpose besides preventing spinbacks. Ejected fired cases are hot enough to burn the skin. When the BADS is fired, both ammunition and links go spewing out to the right—well away from the gunner. Spinbacks can even occur when ejected fired cases strike a mound of links and fired cases that have accumulated under the weapon. Eliminating both the spinback and burn hazard from fired cases is a welcome design feature.

One of the best features of the BADS is the belt holding pawl. In order to keep the belt from falling back into the box, a triangular steel spring drops into the space between linked rounds each time a new round of ammunition is fed. Since the belt holding pawl blocks the feedway, it must be disabled during loading. To do this, the soldier takes a fired case or live round and inserts it between the pawl and the outside wall of the box. This action holds the belt holding pawl out of the feed path so ammunition may be loaded. After loading, the round or fired case is removed, and the pawl springs into action.

Mounting the BADS on the MAG58 or M240 is simple. With the feed cover and tray raised, a keyhole slot on the BADS mounting pad engages a feed box button found on every U.S. and Belgian made gun. Returning the feed tray to the fire position and latching the feed cover closed securely clamps the BADS to the receiver. The feed box button and other engagement with the receiver prevent the BADS from being wrenched away from the gun during maneuvers. Mounting the MG3 BADS variant is much the same.

Another one of the surprising features of the BADS is its height. Normally, you’d expect an underslung ammunition bag like this to be an obstruction to achieving maximum elevation of the machine gun. FN’s plastic underslung ammunition box for the M249 SAW, for example, contacts the ground well before the pistol grip does, limiting how far the gun can be elevated. Even when the BADS is fully loaded, the first thing to contact the ground when shooting at elevated targets is the pistol grip.

While the bag was originally designed for 100-round belts, Mr. Moody found he could easily add an extra 25 rounds. This is accomplished even without compromising box length or limiting the maximum elevation of the weapon. It’s surprising to see that the pistol grip, and not the BADS, comes in contact with the ground first. Although U.S. 7.62mm ammunition comes packed in 100-round belts, we might imagine some tactical scenarios—particularly defensive—where having a few more rounds available would be an advantage. When the BADS is loaded to maximum capacity, only three magazine changes would be needed to fire a 500-round compliment.

Prior to the BADS, the newest ammunition bag for the M240B was developed by the U.S. Army. Like the old FN and German bags, the weight of the ammunition was again far out on the left side of the machine gun. Holding only 50 rounds, the Army bag opens with a button for easy loading, but loading is anything but easy. Layering a 50-round belt in the open bag seems like it would be simple, but the ammunition kept falling out when I tried it. I suppose there is some trick to it, but I have yet to find it.

The design intent of the Army’s small capacity bag is to minimize the annoying offset weight while providing the machine gunner a few rounds of ready ammunition until the assistant gunner arrives. Other than to stick around to help spot the enemy and to bring up extra ammunition, it would seem with the BADS the assistant gunner could be doing other things. Providing suppressive fire with his M4 while the gunner reloads, for example, would offer a tactical advantage on the battlefield.

Since the time I first witnessed the BADS in action, Mr. Moody has been refining his design for production, which is the current status. There are about 120 countries around the world using the M240 or MAG58 as their principal medium machine gun. About 30 countries still use the MG3, and the balance uses the side-ejecting Russian PKM. Ammunition boxes with capacities of 100 and 150 rounds are centrally located under the PKM to provide perfect balance, which the MG3 and MAG58/M240 will have with the BADS.

Mr. Moody says he has interest from a number of foreign users, and the U.S. military will soon be evaluating the BADS. The BADS improves weapon feeding and handling and eliminates a major drawback of the MAG58/M240 and MG3 when compared to the PKM. Overall, it’s a simple design, is long overdue and offers a new opportunity to reconsider how these medium machine guns are manned and deployed.

LASERMAX: Spartan Light & Laser Combo

Capitalizing on the most visible wavelength in the color spectrum, Spartan Light & Laser delivers 120 Lumens of groundbreaking Mint Green LED light and quickly adapts to a multitude of rail platforms with exclusive Rail Vise Technology. Lasers come in vivid red or daytime green. This is LaserMax’s first offering that uses a readily available AAA battery. Spartan Light & Laser packs vital target identification and illumination capabilities into the smallest housing available today. Protected by a 5-year warranty, Spartan Light & Laser are priced for every shooter’s budget at just $175 for red (SPS-C-R) and $215 for green (SPS-C-G). www.lasermax.com

AMERICAN BUILT ARMS COMPANY: MOD*X Rifle

Built completely in the U.S., the MOD*X Rifle is a lightweight, affordable bolt-action rifle featuring the Remington Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD barreled action housed in the A*B Arms MOD*X GEN III Modular Rifle System.

The MOD*X Rifle offers advances in rifle chassis design that have already paved the way for future chassis designs as they relate to increased modularity, decreased weight, as well as improved affordability; all important benefits and features to the firearms enthusiast.

“The MOD*X Rifle was designed around the extremely popular MOD*X GEN III Modular Rifle System,” says Jason Combs, President and Founder of American Built Arms Company. “Along with our recent relationship with Remington Outdoor Company, we were able to merge the Model 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD in both .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor to create one outstanding, bolt action rifle.”

Due to the modularity of the MOD*X GEN III chassis, the MOD*X Rifle will be able to accept a variety of after-market products such as the A*B Arms MOD*X GEN III Side Folder Mechanism, KeyMod accessories, etc. The MOD*X Rifle comes standard with extras like the A*B Arms Urban Recoil Pad, the Ergo 4009-BK pistol grip, the A*B Arms Xtreme 13.5-inch aluminum hand guard and a heavy, threaded barrel. The MOD*X Rifle will be sold through A*B Arms Distributors and Dealers across the U.S. www.abarms.com

RUGER:AR-Lower Elite

Ruger announces the release of the AR-Lower Elite, a fully assembled, full-featured modern sporting rifle lower receiver. Featuring the Ruger Elite 452 AR-Trigger, Magpul MOE SL stock and Magpul MOE grip, the AR-Lower Elite is a premium platform for those wishing to assemble their own modern sporting rifle. The AR-Lower Elite is built from the same hard-coat anodized, CNC-machined, 7075-T6 forged lower receiver as the Ruger AR-556. This lower receiver ships with an upgraded trigger and furniture and is fully assembled to include the pivot and takedown pins, bolt catch, magazine release, trigger guard, mil-spec buffer tube, buffer and spring. The addition of a complete, mil-spec upper receiver assembly of the consumer’s choice will complete this custom modern sporting rifle. www.Ruger.com

TIER 5 SOLUTIONS: Modified Bolt Catch (MBC) (Patent Pending)

Firearms training in general is challenging in of itself, and training new students who are not familiar with the AR rifle proves even tougher. After 24 years as a firearms instructor for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Edgardo Tolentino knew there had to be a way to train with and handle the AR more safely. That’s why he developed the Modified Bolt Catch (MBC).

The MBC is a Drop-In Modification that will fit all Mil-Spec AR firearms. It converts the mechanical operation of an AR firearm from semi-automatic/auto-loading/self-loading to single-shot/manual loading. An AR firearm fitted with an MBC makes an excellent training platform.

Try out the MBC so you can see for yourself the wide range of benefits it provides. Whether you install it in your personal AR rifles or in a law enforcement agency’s AR rifles, it makes an excellent training platform. Since the MBC is made to Mil-Spec standard measurements, aftermarket accessories sold for use on standard bolt catches to allow ambidextrous operation can be utilized. At a Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price of less than $40.00, it is a very affordable option even if you have multiple AR firearms. www.tier5solutions.com

AIMPOINT INC., USA: Aimpoint CompM5

The Aimpoint CompM5 is a high performance red dot sight developed for professional end-users. The CompM5 allows for unlimited eye relief and is compatible with Aimpoint 3XMag-1 and 6XMag-1 magnifiers and all generations of Night Vision Devices. Powered by an AAA battery, the CompM5 can remain constantly on for over 5 years depending on the intensity setting. Aimpoint sights are designed for the “both eyes open” method which greatly enhances situational awareness and target acquisition. Thanks to the optical design, the red dot follows the movement of the user’s eye while remaining fixed on target, eliminating any need for centering. www.aimpoint.com

DuraBlue Spray-On Bluing

This revolutionary new coating is indistinguishable from traditional bluing but wears like DuraCoat! Simple spray application eliminates the need for dangerous and expensive chemicals. No maintenance, no oil, yet never worry about rust. Apply with an airbrush or spray gun or use the convenient aerosol can. Available in blue, blue/black and black, polished or matte. www.duracoat-firearm-finishes.com

KAHR FIREARMS GROUP: 9mm Models from “S” Series

The S9093 features a 3.6-inch barrel with conventional rifling, an overall length of 5.9 inches, and a height of 4.5 inches. The “S” Series model has the added features of white 3-dot sights, front serrations on the slide, an accessory rail and an ID tag on the grip. Capacity is 7+1, and the pistol is shipped with two 7-round magazines.

Also new in the “S” Series is the ST9093. It features a 4-inch barrel, an overall length of 6.5 inches and a height of 5.08 inches. It has white 3-dot sights, front serrations on the slide, an accessory rail and an ID tag on the grip. Capacity is 8+1 and ships with two 8-round magazines. www.kahr.com

QIOPTIC: KITE In-Line Image Intensifier

The KITE In-Line Image Intensifier is an In-Line Weapon Mounted Night Sight that excels in the Night Vision Clip on Market due to its unrivalled high optical performance and lightweight compact size. It is the latest fully qualified military standard Night Vision Sight designed specifically for short and medium range surveillance and target engagement. Providing dependable performance, Kite In-line is aligned at the factory to provide guaranteed lifetime repeatability accuracy of 0.5mrad or better. www.qioptiq.com

Smith & Wesson: M&P15 Sport II and M&P15 Sport II OR Rifles

Smith & Wesson has begun shipping its industry-leading M&P15 Sport II and M&P15 Sport II Optics Ready (OR) rifles in California-Compliant versions. The popular M&P15 Sport II rifles have been designed to comply with current California standards for semi-automatic centerfire rifles.

Chambered in 5.56mm NATO, the California Compliant M&P15 Sport II and M&P15 Sport II-OR rifles have a 10-round magazine, fixed stock and ambidextrous safety selector. Both rifles feature the durable Armornite finish on the interior and exterior of the barrel for enhanced corrosion resistance.

The M&P15 Sport II–CA Compliant rifle comes standard with a Magpul MBUS rear sight and A2 front post. The M&P15 Sport II OR-CA Compliant rifle is designed to be optics-ready and features a Picatinny-rail gas block and top rail system for easy mounting of optics. www.smith-wesson.com

EAGLE IMPORTS: MICROMAX

Llama took the classic 1911 and shrunk it down to make it easier to conceal. The Micromax features a precision made steel frame, weighing only 23 ounces. But despite its size, this .380 still functions and performs like a full size with a dovetail front sight and Novak-type rear sight. Features include:

• Contoured grips for comfort
• Flared and lowered ejection port to eliminate hangups
• Skeletal combat trigger for sleek aesthetics
• Front and rear slide serrations for better grip
• Skeletal combat hammer for sleek aesthetics
• Standard slide stop for added safety
• Throated forged steel barrel for added durability
• Lifetime service contract for original owner

www.eagleimportsinc.com

HEXMAG
Hexmag Series 2

Company Name: Hexmag
Company Website: www.hexmag.com
What gun is the magazine for? AR-15, FN SCAR 16, IWI Tavor, CZ Bren, Beretta ARX100
Calibers: .223/5.56x45mm, .300 AAC Blackout, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beowulf
Material: PolyHex2 Advanced Composite
Capacity: 30 rounds (.223/5.56x45mm)
Dimensions: 7.5” x 2.5” x .75”
Options: HexID (Colored followers and latch plates), Hexmag Grip Tape
MSRP price (in USD): $14.99
Description: The next evolution in AR-15 magazines is here—the Hexmag Series 2 featuring Hexmag’s iconic HEXTURE design patterned texture. Enhancements make this the most compatible, user-friendly magazine on the market, while Hexmag’s proprietary PolyHex2TM Advanced Composite delivers superior strength and reliable performance for lifetime usability. All Hexmag magazines are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty.

AR-10/.308 SR-25

Company Name: Hexmag
Company Website: www.hexmag.com
What gun is the magazine for? AR-10/.308, SR25
Caliber: 7.62 x 51mm NATO, .308 Win
Material: PolyHex2 Advanced Composite
Capacity: 20 rounds
Dimensions: 6.5” x 3.25” x 1”
Options: HexID (colored followers and latch plates), Hexmag Grip Tape
MSRP price (in USD): $18.99
Description: Whether you’re on the hunt or engaging a long-range target, you need a heavy-duty caliber that delivers power and precision, and When Every Round Counts, you can trust the Hexmag AR-10/.308 SR-25 magazine. Engineered from Hexmag’s PolyHex2™ Advanced Composite, these magazines are designed to handle the demands of 7.62x51mm (.308) Winchester calibers. These rugged magazines are constructed with Hexmag’s iconic HEXTURE design patterned texture for durability, dependability and exceptional performance. All Hexmag magazines are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty.

VISTA OUTDOOR BRAND: BUTLER CREEK
Savage A-Series

Company Name: Vista Outdoor Brand: Butler Creek
Company Website: www.butlercreek.com
What gun is the magazine for? Savage A-Series Rifle
Calibers: .17 HMR and .22LR
Material: Metal, Stainless Steel
Capacity: 25 rounds
Dimensions: 8” x 1 ½” x 1 ½”
Options: Weapon Type: A17 & A22LR
MSRP price (in USD): $35.95 each model
Description: Maximize your Savage A-Series rifle with Butler Creek’s 25-round magazine. This Savage Arms-approved magazine brings extra capacity to the rifle. The magazine can be loaded traditionally or by using the red loading assist lever on the side. It features a stainless steel spring and all metal header and feed lips for reliable feeding. A remaining round indicator on the side lets you know when the magazine is running short of rounds. Connect two magazines together for double the firepower.

MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP.
PMAG D-60 AR/M4 Drum Magazine

Company Name: Magpul Industries
Company Website: www.magpul.com
What gun is the magazine for? AR15/M4 compatible weapons; M4, M16, SCAR MK16/16S, HK416, MR556, M27 IAR, IWI Tavor and others
Calibers: 5.56x45mm NATO/.223 Remington
Material: Polymer
Capacity: 60 rounds
Dimensions: 7.4″ x 4.1”
Options: N/A
MSRP price (in USD): $129.95
Description: The PMAG D-60 is a durable, lightweight, highly reliable 60-round 5.56×45 NATO/.223 Remington* polymer drum magazine for AR15/M4 compatible weapons.

With a larger capacity than previous PMAGs, the PMAG D-60 gives the shooter 60 rounds of ammunition, effectively allowing the same round count as two standard capacity 30-round magazines without requiring a critical reload.

The unique drum configuration keeps the height of the magazine manageable as well as allowing for prone firing and easier storage. Features an easy-to-use loading lever, paint pen dot matrix for easy marking and a rear window for instant capacity indication. Compatible with a wide range of NATO firearms.

FEATURES

• Next-generation impact and crush resistant polymer construction
• Wide compatibility with most “STANAG 4179” platforms such as the AR15, M4, M16, SCAR MK16/16S, HK416, MR556, M27 IAR, IWI Tavor and others
• Will seat fully loaded on a closed bolt
• Bolt hold open feature to lock the bolt back on the last round**
• Ratcheting Loading Lever to take tension off the spring for easy loading by hand
• Feed Tower compatible with most loading devices, including USGI stripper clips and guides, the StripLULA and others
• Designed to be left loaded for long term storage without any loss of function or degradation
• All components used are corrosion resistant
• Easy to disassemble for cleaning with only a flat-bladed screwdriver or similar
• Anti-glare translucent window on rear of drum allows for easy determination of rounds remaining
• Paint pen dot matrix panel on back of body to allow for identification marking
• Slip-on, semi-rigid Dust Cover prevents grit and debris intrusion during storage and transport

PMAG 30 AR/M4 GEN M3 Window

Company Name: Magpul Industries
Company Website: www.magpul.com
What gun is the magazine for? Colt-spec AR15/M4 platforms; HK 416/MR556A1/M27 IAR, British SA-80, FN SCAR MK 16/16S and others
Calibers: 5.56x45mm NATO (.223 Remington)
Material: Polymer
Capacity: 30 rounds
Dimensions: N/A
Options: Pop-off Impact/Dust Cover. Colors: Medium Coyote Tan, Black, Sand
MSRP price (in USD): $17.95
Description: Adopted by the US Marine Corps and USSOCOM, and now approved for use by the US Air Force, the next-generation PMAG 30 GEN M3 Window is a 30-round 5.56×45 NATO/.223 Remington polymer magazine for AR15/M4 compatible weapons that features transparent windows to allow rapid visual identification of approximate number of rounds remaining. Along with expanded feature set and compatibility, the GEN M3 Window incorporates new material technology and manufacturing processes for enhanced strength, durability and reliability to exceed rigorous military performance specifications.

While the GEN M3 is optimized for Colt-spec AR15/M4 platforms, modified internal and external geometry also permits operation with a range of additional weapons such as the HK 416/MR556A1/M27 IAR, British SA-80, FN SCAR MK 16/16S and others.

Similar to the MOE PMAG, the GEN M3 Window features a long-life USGI-spec stainless steel spring, four-way anti-tilt follower and constant-curve internal geometry for reliable feeding and simple tool-less disassembly to ease cleaning.

In addition, a redesigned bolt catch notch in the rear of the magazine provides increased bolt catch clearance, while an over-travel stop on the spine helps ensure the magazine will not over-insert on compatible weapons. Low profile ribs and new aggressive front and rear texture gives positive control of the GEN M3 in all environments, and a paint pen dot matrix has been added to the bottom panel of the body to allow easy marking by the end user for identification. The new, easy-to-disassemble flared floorplate aids extraction and handling of the magazine while providing improved drop protection but is slightly slimmer than before for better compatibility with tight double and triple magazine pouches. An included pop-off Impact/Dust Cover can optionally be used to minimize debris intrusion and protect against potential damage to the top cartridge during storage and transit.

Durable dual-side transparent windows allow for quick determination of approximate number of rounds remaining in the magazine. Utilizing a high visibility indicator coil on the spring and numerical markers on the magazine body, the MagLevel system provides positive verification without affecting the durability or reliability of the magazine. Made in U.S.A.

FEATURES

• Next-generation impact and crush resistant polymer construction
• Modified dimensions allow for wider compatibility with non Colt-spec “STANAG 4179” platforms
• Constant-curve internal geometry for smooth feeding
• Anti-tilt, self-lubricating follower for increased reliability
• Long life USGI-spec stainless steel spring, black-oxide coated (MIL-DTL-13924D)
• Anti-glare translucent MagLevel windows on both sides of the body along with a painted indicator on the spring allows for easy determination of rounds remaining from 1 to 30
• Over-travel insertion stop on the spine
• Ribbed gripping surface and new aggressive front and rear texture for positive magazine handling
• Paint pen dot matrix panels on the bottom of the body to allow for identification marking
• Flared floorplate aids magazine handling and disassembly yet is slim enough for use with many double and triple pouches

AMERICAN TACTICAL IMPORTS INC.
CSG Rotary Magazine for Ruger 10/22 and SR22

Company Name: American Tactical Imports Inc.
Company Website: www.americantactical.us
What gun is the magazine for? Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic rifles
Calibers: .22 Long Rifle
Material: Polymer
Capacity: 110 rounds .22LR
Dimensions: N/A
Options: N/A
MSRP price (in USD): $59.95
Description: This Ruger rifle drum magazine from German Sport Guns functions reliably with many types of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. The 10/22 drum magazine features a whopping 110 round capacity for shooters who would rather be plinking than reloading. When you must eventually reload, do it efficiently with the built-in loading lever. Magazine has bolt hold open feature so when you finally get through 110 rounds you can easily check your chamber. German Sport Guns does not recommend using wax coated .22lr with this magazine. (Information provided on American Tactical’s website.)

Practical Tips for Licensees, Firearms and Transfers Compliance

As outside regulatory counsel to federal firearms licensees (FFLs), we often review inspection reports issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). One of the violations we see ATF citing on a regular basis involves personal firearms commingled with business inventory and not recorded in the acquisition and disposition record. The other problem areas for licensees are transfers of business inventory to employees for personal use and transfers of firearms to contractors and other non-employees for demonstration and evaluation. This article will address the law and regulations governing these business practices and provide practical compliance tips.

I. OVERVIEW OF THE GUN CONTROL ACT RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, requires persons engaging in the business of importing, manufacturing or dealing in firearms, so-called federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to keep records of firearms transactions in accordance with implementing regulations. The regulations require FFLs enter each acquisition and disposition of firearms into a permanent acquisition and disposition record (an “A&D record” or “A&D book”), also commonly referred to as a “bound book.” For firearm dispositions to non-licensees, ATF requires FFLs record the transfer on a Form 4473 “Firearm Transaction Record” and check the prospective transferee against the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). In addition, an FFL’s firearm transfer to a non-licensee must comply with all other requirements of federal and state law.

II. PERSONAL FIREARMS

The law and regulations allow FFLs to maintain personal collections of firearms. Personal firearms acquired by a licensee prior to obtaining a license must be recorded as business inventory in the A&D book if the licensee intends to sell the firearms. All firearms acquired after the license is issued that are acquired under the authority of the license must be entered into the acquisition and disposition record.

Conversely, if the firearms are part of the FFL’s business inventory and are then moved into the personal collection of the principal or proprietor, there are hoops the FFL must jump through to ensure the move complies with ATF requirements. The first question is whether the license holder and the collector are the same “person,” as the answer determines whether a transfer will occur, thus triggering the Form 4473 and NICS check requirements.

In one instance, a sole proprietor may hold a license in his or her own name so that the proprietor and the licensee are one and the same. In such a case, movement of firearms from the licensee to the proprietor is not a transfer, and the Form 4473 and NICS check are not required. However, the firearm to be transferred must be recorded in the FFL’s A&D record, with the disposition specifying transfer to the proprietor’s personal collection. If the firearm so transferred is held as part of a personal collection for at least one year, the proprietor may sell it in the same manner as any other non-FFL, with no Form 4473, no NICS check, etc. Of course, the individual must still comply with the interstate controls and all other requirements of the GCA that apply to non-licensees.

If the FFL is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or partnership (LLC or LLP) or other business entity, then the question of whether the business entity can have a “personal collection” of firearms requires a more complex analysis. Because business entities are artificial persons as opposed to natural persons, it is often more difficult to make the argument that corporations and other legal entities can create and maintain a personal collection of firearms.

First, the concept of a corporation or other business entity engaging in “personal” activities is often at odds with the reasons for which such entities commonly are formed, such as limiting the personal liability of the individuals who formed the entity. Furthermore, a business entity may be created to engage in a for-profit business. To overcome such presumptions, the entity’s formation documents should clearly establish that the business is authorized to hold a personal collection of firearms. Although it is possible these business entities may be created, at least in part, for purposes of collecting firearms, the formation documents must clearly state this purpose. If such documents are sufficient under state law, it is possible the transfer of firearms to a personal collection may be accomplished as indicated above in relation to a sole proprietor. As discussed in more detail below, a transfer of firearms by a corporate FFL to an individual employee for purposes of enhancing his or her personal collection is a “transfer” that must comply with all GCA requirements.

Before we leave the subject of personal firearms collections, it is important to address the storage of personal firearms at the licensed premises. ATF takes the position that all firearms on a licensee’s business premises are for sale and must be entered into the A&D record as inventory. To avoid this presumption, FFLs who bring personal firearms to the licensed premises or who allow employees to bring personal firearms to the premises should tag them with the name of the owner, mark them “PERSONAL FIREARMS—NOT FOR SALE” and segregate them from the business inventory. If ATF conducts a compliance inspection when untagged personal firearms are on the premises, the FFL may be cited for failure to record the firearms in the A&D record.

FFLs who allow employees to bring personal firearms to the licensed premises should adopt clear written policies on tagging and segregation from the business inventory to avoid problems with ATF.

III. TRANSFERS OF FIREARMS TO EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS

As indicated above, we are skeptical that a corporation, limited liability partnership or other business entity may, consistent with state law, create and hold a personal firearms collection. The more likely scenario, and the one we encounter frequently, is an employee of a corporate FFL receiving firearms from the FFL for purposes of maintaining his or her personal collection. This can also occur with an officer or director of a corporate FFL using the license to acquire firearms from another FFL and then transferring the firearms to his or her personal collection. In this situation the firearm is transferred by the FFL holder to a non-FFL holder, a “transfer” which must comply with all the provisions of the GCA. Indeed, ATF made it clear in ATF Rul. 2010-1 (available on ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/ruling/2010-1-temporary-assignment-firearm-ffl-unlicensed-employee/download, last visited 12/9/2016) that permanent transfers of firearms to employees that are not for business purposes of the FFL are “transfers” that must be recorded on Form 4473, accomplished with a NICS check and recorded as a disposition entry in the A&D book. A permanent transfer of a firearm for purposes of enhancing the employee’s (or officer’s or director’s) personal collection is unrelated to the FFL’s business and must be accomplished in this manner.

Temporary transfers to employees/officers/directors that are not for purposes of carrying out the FFL’s business likewise must comply with all provisions of the GCA. As an example, if an employee wishes to borrow an inventory firearm to go target shooting or hunting, the transaction must be recorded on a Form 4473, a NICS check must be conducted and the disposition recorded in the A&D book. Only if the transfer is temporary, with title remaining in the FFL, and the transfer is for purposes of carrying out the FFL’s business (e.g., display or demonstration to potential purchasers) may the FFL avoid the requirements of the GCA. Even in this situation it is a good practice to make a notation in the acquisition and disposition record indicating the date the firearm was loaned to the employee, the purpose for which loaned and the date it was returned. This procedure will avoid problems if an ATF inspection is conducted during the time period the firearm is in the custody of the employee and is not located at the licensed premises.

ATF Rul. 2010-1 also makes it clear that transfers of firearms to persons who are not bona fide employees of the FFL must comply with all provisions of the GCA. Readers may recall that a ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service in 1969 and an industry circular issued by ATF in 1972 took the position that temporary assignments of firearms to FFL agents and representatives (including professional writers, consultants and evaluators) were not “transfers” requiring execution of a Form 4473 or otherwise complying with the requirements of the GCA. ATF Rul. 2010-1 superseded the ruling and industry circular, holding that only temporary assignments of firearms to employees for bona fide business purposes of the FFL are exempt from the Form 4473, NICS check and other requirements of the statute. The ruling notes that “bona fide business purposes” means purposes integral to the FFL’s business operations and do not include permanently assigning a firearm to a specific employee or loaning or renting a firearm to an employee for personal use.

So how can a licensee tell the difference between an employee and an agent/contractor? ATF provided guidance on this subject in a 1990 FFL Newsletter (available at www.atf.gov/file/56361/download, last visited 12/9/2016). The newsletter article, titled “Sales Agents,” states that in determining whether an employer/employee relationship exists, ATF considers whether the alleged employee is subject to the employer’s control over the manner in which the work is performed. ATF states that other factors include whether the individual is on the company payroll, whether taxes and Social Security are deducted from pay, whether the individual receives company paid benefits and other indicia of the traditional employer/employee relationship.

ATF Rul. 2010-1 also addressed the differences between an employee or contractor, stating that FFLs exert a higher level of control over employees than they have over contractors and other agents. The ruling states that, unlike contractors and agents, employees work for wages or salaries under direct supervision of the employer. The ruling further states that in the context of employees the employer controls not only the result of the employee’s work, but also the manner, training and hours in which the work will be carried out. By contrast, in contractor or non-employee agency relationships the individual has control of the manner, training and hours of performing the work and is only responsible for the result. The ruling states that because the FFL relinquishes control over a firearm by temporarily assigning it to a non-employee, the GCA requirements apply.

It is likely most FFLs know whether a particular individual is an employee or is a contractor or other agent. If the individual is on the payroll, taxes are deducted from his or her pay and company benefits are provided to the individual, the individual is likely an employee. Contractors or other agents (including writers and evaluators) are not on the payroll and generally receive payment on an hourly basis or through negotiation of a flat fee for services.

We summarize the requirements of the law for temporary and permanent transfers of firearms by FFLs to employees and contractors/agents in the table to the right…

Conclusion

FFLs should ensure that firearms transferred from business inventory to a personal collection are recorded in accordance with the law and regulations. It is also essential that FFLs who allow employees to bring personal firearms to work require tagging and segregation to avoid the appearance that they are inventory. FFLs need to understand the different record keeping requirements for transfers of firearms to employees for FFL business purposes, transfers to employees for personal use and transfers to contractors/agents. Failure to conduct firearms transactions in accordance with the law may result in a variety of penalties, including license revocation, license suspension, civil fines, forfeiture of firearms involved in violations of the law and/or criminal prosecution.

The information contained in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as legal advice or as legal opinion. You should not rely or act on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney. Receipt of this article does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP in Washington, DC (www.reevesdola.com). For more than 10 years she has dedicated her practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2011, Johanna also has served as Executive Director for the FireArms Import/Export Roundtable (F.A.I.R.) Trade Group (http://fairtradegroup.org). In 2016, Johanna was appointed by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs to serve on the 2016-18 Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG).

Teresa Ficaretta is an expert on ATF regulations under the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, the Arms Export Control Act and Federal explosives laws. Before joining Reeves & Dola in 2013, Teresa served as legal counsel to ATF for 26 years, followed by two years as Deputy Assistant Director in Enforcement Programs and Services. Teresa was elected partner to Reeves & Dola in January 2016.

ATF Rul. 2010-1 also makes it clear that transfers of firearms to persons who are not bona fide employees of the FFL must comply with all provisions of the GCA.

Emergencies and Your FFL

This column is being written at the end of August. Your author is typing away at his computer, located not too far from the Texas Gulf Coast as Hurricane Harvey prepares to make landfall. It has been nine years since a hurricane crossed the shore in Texas, and it appears as though there are far too many people who have forgotten that basic, common sense procedures involved in preparing for a major storm. Time marches on, and technology makes stunning progress, yet folks seem to revert to panic and passion in the run up to potential disaster.

I drove past a neighborhood gas station. There were nearly 80 cars haphazardly queued up, and tempers were quite short. I was in my truck waiting for the light to turn green, and I watched a three-way fist fight break out amongst part of the lined-up customers. Really? The local sports talk radio station was broadcasting a stream of head’s up announcements for where folks might be able to pick up bottled water (you know you can fill up containers from the tap, right?), diapers, generators, beer, plywood … and more. The rain has already started, and people are just now getting around to doing their prep work. The big box DIY home stores? Jammed. Grocery stores? Looks like a giant vacuum cleaner alleviated the shelves of everything. We’ve been through this before, and, yet, it seems as though nobody remembers how to do anything.

From out of the blue, my phone rings with a Washington, DC area code. It’s the ATF auto-dialer. A pre-recorded message begins to play alerting me to the fact that a severe storm is imminent and that I should take measures to secure the inventory of my Federal Firearms License. There is a lot for an FFL to secure:

• Firearms come to mind, first. They must be secured from natural peril and also the potential peril of looters, and such.
• The Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) book must be secured, but check with ATF on just how to go about removing it to a safe place.
• The 4473s must be secured, with the same ATF blessing.
• All the Multiple Handgun Sale (and Long Arm Multiples for border states) forms, too.
• All the Entity Acquisition Sworn Statements.
• All the NFA Forms.
• All the FFL copies (my IOI makes sure that I have them all during routine inspections).

Again, there is a lot to account for and secure. It makes sense to be prepared, doesn’t it? It’s not exactly prudent to start the preparation when disaster is on the doorstep. The best time to start preparations is long before they are needed. All the firearms are raised significantly above floor level and covered with plastic. All the records, paper and electronic, are ready to go. They have been duplicated and stored separately in their own Yeti coolers! The generators are regularly tested and confirmed as functioning. The gasoline supply is already in place. The portable air conditioner is ready to go (it is August in the Houston area, after all). Plenty of bottled water. Plenty of bottled gas for the grill in case it is time to start cooking up provisions that were “forced” to thaw. Flashlights abound. The chat with neighbors has been had, and we all have each other’s backs. I guess it’s time to sit back and see what happens, hoping that I do not receive the other call from ATF. The one that warns that there has been a burglary of a Federal Firearms Licensee in my area.

FFLs should never be in a reactive mode. For that matter, we should all be prepared for the possible. The NFATCA always aims to help its members prepare. So keep your powder (and your provisions) dry.