In-Depth Look at Maxim and Vickers in WWII 

Vickers-Maxim Machine Guns Enthusiast’s Manual: 1886 to 1968 (All Models) 

• Author: Martin Pegler 
• Publisher: Haynes Publishing 
• ISBN: 978 1 78521 563 6 
• Copyright: 2019 
• Hardcover: 8.5” x 11”, 172 pages 
• MSRP: $36.95 

This is the second of two separate, unrelated books about the legendary Vickers machine gun by author Martin Pegler, former Senior Curator of the Royal Armouries Museum Leeds, England. 

Regular readers of this column may recall a review in SAR Vol. 23, No. 4 (April 2019) where I reviewed four books from the Weapon series by Osprey Publishing. One of those books also dealt with the Maxim and Vickers family of guns (The Vickers-Maxim Machine Gun, WPN 25). 

As I have noted previously, the booklets that make up the Osprey Weapon series are fine books, but at only 80 pages, they are best regarded as an introduction to a given topic. 

This new book by Haynes Publishing (yes, the car manual folks) covers the Maxim and Vickers guns in much greater detail. Fortunately, this reads like a book, not a repair manual. After the usual Acknowledgements and Introduction chapters, there is a historical look back at the earliest types of repeating arms. These generally were of the multiple barrel “volley” gun or of the revolving type, best described as an overgrown revolver that fires rifle or small cannon rounds. These volley and revolving guns were usually mounted on a tripod or stand of some sort. They were manually fired, and they all had a limited number of rounds. 

Following these, came the hand-cranked designs by Gardner, Nordenfelt, Gatling and others. It was at this time that Hiram S. Maxim designed the weapon that changed warfare. Author Martin Pegler covers these early hand-cranked guns in detail in Chapter 1, “The Machine Gun Concept.” Chapter 2, “Trials and Tribulations,” begins with a look at Maxim himself. Maxim was a fascinating man, a true genius when it came to inventions. He had over 80 patents by age 44 for a wide range of items. Over half were for electrical equipment, as he was fascinated by electricity. After a conversation with a friend, Maxim set about to invent a gun that could load, fire and eject all by itself. There are several great old drawings that illustrate his earliest prototypes. Along with these drawings, there are several photographs from the era depicting these guns, plus two current photos of two prototypes belonging to the Royal Armouries Museum. I really like the layout of this chapter. 

Pegler then covers the company merger with the Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering company, WWI manufacture and WWII manufacture in chapters 3, 4 and 5. Again, we are treated to a great selection of photos, both from the era and current times. The photos that date from the Wars are black and white, naturally. The current photos, primarily of equipment and various accessories and parts, are in full color. 

Chapter 6, “The Vickers in Service,” deals with the ground guns naturally, but it also covers guns mounted on biplane fighters. This information is seldom seen. Chapter 7, “Vickers Variants,” looks at guns mounted on vehicles and tanks. Included here is a look at the scaled-up .5-inch (similar to the .50BMG round) and the follow-up 12.7mm Class D gun. Again, the author has provided many interesting photos detailing these variants. 

Chapter 8, “Maintaining and Shooting a Vickers,” promises “the sequences for stripping and cleaning a gun are examined along with detailed supporting images and technical drawings covering every part of the guns and their components.” This sounds impressive, but don’t throw out your original military manuals just yet. Yes, it does go into some detail on how to change a barrel without losing all the cooling water and swap out major assemblies like the feedblock and lock, but it will not make you an armourer. If you own a live gun that isn’t running right, this chapter may point you in the right direction, but you likely will need more detailed info. Having said this, the Vickers and Maxim design is an amazingly complex mechanism, so this comment should not be taken as a complaint. 

Chapter 9, “A User’s View,” tells the history via quotes from soldiers that used the gun in combat, including one recollection by the author’s uncle. I find this memory ties the chapter together nicely and makes it relatable. 

Enthusiast’s Manual is an appropriate subtitle for this book. Fans of the Vickers will appreciate the more in-depth study of one of the great guns of the Great War. It features many wonderful old period photos, interesting drawings and diagrams from the prototypes and lots of modern color photos of the gun and accessories. 

At 172 pages, it fits well between the Osprey booklet and the forthcoming The Vickers Machine Gun: Pride of the Emma Gees by Dolf Goldsmith. 

All You Need to Know About Black Powder Shooting 

From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms 

• Author: Oyvind Flatnes 
• Publisher: The Crowood Press 
• ISBN: 978 1 84797 593 5 
• Copyright: 2013 
• Hardcover: 7.5” x 9.8”, 240 pages, 265 color photos and diagrams 
• MSRP: Barnes & Noble $54.95 

I picked up this book a couple of years ago, as part of the background research for an article on the French M1866 Chassepot “needle-gun” rifle. Upon re-reading it recently, I felt it was worthy of a full review here. 

The title of this book perfectly sums it up nicely. It covers the history of black powder firearms from the earliest of muskets through to the advent of self-contained metallic cartridges. Rather than just a dry history lesson, it offers a great deal of practical information on safety, gun maintenance, loading and cleaning, etc. 

The first chapter, “Age of Firearms,” is a quick overview of the technical progress made since the beginning of the firearms era, probably the early 1200s. Chapter 2, “The Gun in Warfare,” looks back at roughly 500 years of conflict and how the firearm changed battle tactics. As most of the wars involving guns were occurring in Europe, this is where the bulk of the development was occurring. Several of these wars are mentioned. Of course, the American War of Independence and the Civil War are also covered. 

The book is presented in a chronological order, with improvements to the ignition systems following a logical progression from matchlock, wheel-lock, flintlock, to percussion caplock; then the transformation from external ignition to self-contained cartridges is covered. 

While rifles make up the majority of the subject matter, there are chapters dedicated to pistols as well. Cap and ball revolvers are covered, certainly, but older designs like flintlock and even matchlock pistols are profiled. The author points out that so-called “duelling pistols” were seldom advertised by that term. More correctly, they were target pistols that ended up being used in a duel. 

As mentioned above, this book contains a great deal of practical information for anyone wanting to fire black powder. The instructions and diagrams on how to recreate paper cartridges will be especially useful for anyone wanting to warm up an old relic. 

Early black powder cartridge rifles such as the British Martini–Henry, the Springfield M1873 Trapdoor and others are covered in Chapter 11, “The Single-Shot Cartridge Rifle” and Chapter 12, “The Repeating Rifle.” A chapter on “Cartridge Revolvers” follows. Although primarily a history of the evolution of cartridge firing guns, these chapters also have some useful loading information as well. 

Sections on making paper-patched bullets and even on reloading pinfire ammo are especially interesting. Chapter 15 gives a very good explanation of what is required to reload black powder cartridges. Powder, bullets, lube, wads, case annealing, powder compression and more are thoroughly explained. 

Black powder shotguns are not forgotten either. Both muzzle-loading and breech-loaded cartridge-type shotguns are dealt with. As modern plastic hulls don’t work well with black powder, older paper hulls and all-brass cases are discussed. 

The chapter on hunting is interesting to read from a historical perspective; although I did find myself getting angry at the colossal waste that took place during the bison hunts on the Great Plains. 

The book ends with a chapter on the various groups within the larger black powder community. Reenactors of various battles (Napoleonic Wars, colonial America, the Anglo-Zulu War and the American–Indian Wars are common subjects), the North-South Skirmish Association and Cowboy Action Shooters are mentioned. 

I believe this book will be a valuable resource for those wanting to shoot black powder guns from any era. I also found it to be a great study into the history and development of the firearm from the very beginning, up to the transition to smokeless powder in the late 1800s. 

Well-illustrated with 265 color photos and diagrams, laid out in an orderly fashion and delivering the right blend of historical context, technical descriptions of weapons and practical advice makes this a book worth considering. 

In 2019, Global Ordnance introduced its CanMunition™ line of 9mm Luger and 5.56mm Remington ammo packed in what looks like a soft drink can. Holding approximately 90 pistol cartridges or 40 rifle rounds, these nitrogen-filled cans have a wide pull-tab covering the entire top of the container. A snap-on, black plastic lid guards against accidental opening. The 5.56mm selected is 55-grain Fiocchi boat tail ball, a very consistent and reliable load. The 9mm is also by Fiocchi, a 115-grain ball cartridge. 

Ammunition in sealed “spam” cans has been around at least since before WWII. American shooters are mostly familiar with the thick Soviet cans holding 440 or 880 rifle rounds, but other sizes have been popular as well. Bulgaria packed them in lots of 250; Serbia in lots of 800 or 1,000, but all of these long storage containers were meant for regimental use. The tins were bulky and usually required a tool to open, but they did fill the purpose of keeping the contents dry and clean. The countries that failed to figure out how to store ammunition properly, like Turkey and India, got the reputation for very questionable surplus. More recently, lighter plastic packaging has been developed to the same purpose, proving adequate for keeping humidity out but not for mechanical protection of the contents. CanMunition aimed to provide long-term storage without sacrificing the expediency of access, and in lots small enough to be portable. 

The most recent run on ammunition culminated in distributors being out of the most common calibers less than a week after it began. Compared to the early 2000s, the availability of military surplus ammunition declined sharply because of the EU directive to destroy surplus instead of selling it. Anticipating this kind of problem, many prudent people stocked up on gun-food well in advance. Some have discovered that humidity, temperature fluctuations and other eventualities of storage resulted in the deterioration of the cache much sooner than expected. Cardboard packaging absorbing atmospheric humidity is one noted offender. Do CanMunition containers work better?

In most ways, yes. Nitrogen keeps rust and verdigris at bay quite effectively. The 40-round rifle ammo can weighs 18 ounces; the 90-round 9mm can is much heftier at 38 ounces. Either can be handled with ease. The tightly packed contents keep the thin aluminum of the container from deforming easily. The cans themselves have little thermal mass, and they provide minimal insulation from temperature fluctuations. One way to keep them at a relatively constant temperature in a hot car is to place them in a plastic cooler, arranged in a checkerboard pattern with water bottles acting both as a thermal sink and as an emergency liquid supply. If freezing temperatures can be reasonably expected, non-liquid heat sinks are preferred. The cartridges can be cold without ill effect, but avoiding sharp temperature rise is key. When shipped, the cans arrive wrapped in thick paper and enclosed in sealed cardboard boxes, providing some measure of thermal insulation.

Besides the obvious storage utility, these cans make great gifts. Everything, from the humorously ominous graphics on the can to the suitability for long-term retention, makes the cans not just a cute idea but also a very good one. The shelf life can be several decades, though it’s best if the oldest ammunition in the stash is rotated into use as newer stores are acquired. Needless to say, I’ve had zero problems with the contents when several hundred rounds of each caliber were put to use. 

When KelTec came out last year with the CP33, the exceptionally accurate and ergonomic target pistol, the last thing I expected from the company was another rimfire pistol following on its heels. The P17, the newest firearm from the innovative Florida company, fills a completely different niche. It is far more compact, shaped more conventionally and holds 16 rounds in the magazine. P17 has no provision for mounting an optic of any kind, but it does have a threaded muzzle. In keeping with the KelTec tradition, the design is the usual steel frame contained inside a plastic clamshell. A conventional blowback hammer-fired design, it still squeezes in a couple of innovations. 

Features 

The slide of the pistol is a bent “L”-shaped piece of steel that covers the top of the grip-frame opening and turns into the retainer for the barrel bushing in the front. It is attached to the steel breechblock and the textured plastic cocking piece in the rear. On the sides of the barrel, where the vertical portions of the slide usually are, the grip frame continues all the way to the top of the pistol. That lightens the slide and permits very high placement for the support hand, allowing better than usual control of the weapon. The 1980s tactical grip with the support hand’s index finger wrapped around the trigger guard actually works very well with this pistol. 

The magazine is the other unusual element: made entirely of plastic, it is nearly weightless but strong, thanks to extensive structural ribbing. Holding 16 cartridges, the magazine is very easy to load without a tool and proved 100% reliable during use. With the exception of two narrow slots for the bolt stop, the magazine is sealed against dust. Not burdened with a loading button attached to the follower, it fits perfectly into magazine carriers designed for centerfire mags, such as the excellent universal carrier made by Pitbull Tactical. The same carrier also accommodates GLOCK, PF9, P11, PMR30 and CP33 magazines. The magazine release is an ambidextrous paddle set into the base of the trigger guard and well-fenced against accidental activation. Three 16-round magazines are included with each pistol, extras cost under $20. The pistol does not have the unnecessary and unsafe mag disconnector which plagues so many otherwise good designs. 

These technical enhancements result in a pistol weighing just over 11 ounces. In proportions, it nearly matches GLOCK 19X, a pistol which is wildly popular with consumers. Being about 1/10 inch smaller in every dimension than G19X, the P17 sits equally solidly in the hand. The ergonomics prove important, as it weighs half as much as the other gun, so every imperfection of hold would translate into greater deflection off-target. Fortunately, the ergonomics are excellent with the 3-pound trigger and without perceptible staging as a big part of it. The light trigger, with an unusually strong return spring, makes controllable rapid fire with the P17 a breeze.

Originally meant for earlier release, the P17 was delayed long enough to ensure that it is absolutely reliable with all cartridges from subsonic to hyper-velocity, with and without a sound suppressor. An extended barrel bushing threaded 1/2×28 and a wrench for it are included with the pistol. In short, running a wide variety of ammunition through the P17 had exactly zero malfunctions of any kind. Interestingly, even though the barrel is relatively thin, it does not heat up much, possibly due to forced ventilation afforded by the slide design.

The ambidextrous safety blocks the sear, so the trigger just flops with it engaged. It’s a very obvious form of feedback, immediately and obviously different from the springy feel of the live trigger. The trigger isn’t meant for target shooting, but it isn’t the limiting factor for accuracy. Neither is the barrel, but rather the sight radius. Pretty much all kinds of loads resulted in a 1.5-inch group at 10 yards, all of them showing clusters of two and three holes that resulted from inconsistent sight alignment with my eyesight. The good news is that the groups stayed almost that small on rapid fire—shooting as fast as I could come out of recoil, I ended up with about a 2-inch spread. When firing from 100 yards standing, I was able to keep about 75% of the magazine on a full-size steel silhouette. For a compact rimfire pistol, that strikes me as respectable. The key to consistency is remembering to align the top of the front sight and not the fiber optic pipe with the rear notch. The plain black rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage with the included hex wrench.

Disassembly

Disassembly is simple in the extreme. Lock the slide back. If the threaded muzzle nut is installed, unscrew it and replace with the stock nut. Depress release latches on both sides 

of the railed dust cover, pull the slide further back and lift its rear end up. Pull the front of the slide off the barrel, and that’s it! All parts of the pistol are very accessible for cleaning. Assembly and re-assembly take only seconds.

Considerations

Streamlined, lightweight and inexpensive, P17 is an ideal kit gun. The 3.8-inch barrel produces sufficient velocity to make .22LR credible for small game hunting and, in case of dire need, self-defense. 16+1 rounds of something like CCI Mini-mag dumped accurately in the span of 4 seconds or less, with a couple more magazines to back it up amounts to a credible, if not ideal deterrent, with an MSRP of $199 at time of writing. Compared to its direct competitor, the Taurus TX22, the P17 is one-third lighter and 40% less expensive.

If you want optics, KelTec’s CP33 is the way to go. If you want the iron sight radius and the balance for guaranteed 100-yard head shots rather than just highly probable torso hits, CP33 wins again. When fired suppressed, I found some unburned powder hitting my face from the open left side of the breech even with subsonic ammunition. The feeling was similar to fine sand, not painful but distracting. For silenced use, the CP33 wins, as does the TX22 with its more enclosed slide. The Taurus, however, has a different problem with suppressed use: on every sample I’ve used, the rear sight runs out of windage adjustments to zero the pistol once a can is attached. If suppressed use is important, the CP33 is the way to go. For daily carry, the P17, at less than half the weight and the price, will probably win over.

The P17 strikes me as an eminently fun pistol to shoot. It fills the hand without feeling bulky, behaves well on rapid fire and just invites burning up ammunition like there’s more at every store. It also gets the job done reliably, even with bulk ammunition. The stout firing pin imprint and well-designed feed geometry make it work well even with cheap fodder, as a proper kit gun should. 

Most prepared citizens carry a handheld flashlight in addition to their firearm. This piece examines some of the current high-output (around 1,000 lumens) tactical lights while focusing on beam patterns, switch ergonomics and carry comfort. The tactical lights examined are: Streamlight ProTac HL-X, SureFire Tactician, SureFire Defender Tactical (E2DLU-T) and the SureFire EDCL2-T.

Beam Pattern and Vision

To draw an analogy between flashlights and cars, lumen is like crank horsepower whereas vision downrange is like wheel horsepower; the former is a figure on paper while the latter has practical impact. Crank to wheel horsepower is influenced by driveline loss, while lumen to downrange vision is influenced by beam pattern. 

Flood beam light trades throw distance for a wider field-of-view up close; Spot beam light allows one to see a small patch very far. The lights discussed in this article rank from flood beams to spot beams in this order: SureFire Tactician, SureFire EDCL2-T/Defender Tactical and Streamlight ProTac HL-X. 

The author compiled the following table from his own measurements 6m from a blank wall. Note that hot-spot measurement for the SureFire Tactician is approximate at best, since it has a very gradual falloff. In addition, patterns from the EDCL2-T and Defender are indistinguishable. 

To put those numbers into practical terms, one must consider self-defense use cases. One may walk under street lights (e.g., downtown after dinner), observe suspicious behaviour and employ light to identify if there are no opportunities to avoid the behaviour. Ambient light forms the “noise floor” from which the target “signal” must be raised, so that the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficient for proper identification. Given similar lumens, spot pattern focuses more light on a target (higher candela) to help “punch through” ambient light. This increased identification range better maintains separation from the threat. 

Conversely, citizens may face multiple attackers as criminals hunt in packs. At 10m, SureFire Tactician’s flood pattern allows positive identification of another attacker 5m laterally from the main threat. Role-playing the off-axis threat in that scenario, the author found his vision severely impaired by the Tactician’s flood pattern such that the citizen’s silhouette is hidden. With SureFire Defender’s spot pattern, the threat could still engage a citizen’s silhouette. 

Indoors, the spot pattern allows one to more comfortably clear deep corners and long corridors while the flood pattern feels less claustrophobic. In rooms with white walls or mirrors, both patterns must be bounced off a ceiling or floor to avoid blinding oneself. 

A strong spill can simplify shooting with handheld lights. Employing the FBI technique with spot patterns, the author instinctively steered the hot-spot onto the target while drawing and aiming; although another tester did not experience this. A flood pattern light allowed the author to solely focus on marksmanship. With the SureFire technique, the author found he must angle the light low to avoid dragging his trigger finger against the support hand; alternate placements drastically compromised support. Strong spill from a flood pattern sufficiently illuminated the target even with such a pointing error. 

All the lights except the Defender Tactical (E2DLU-T) have low output modes as task lights. The Defender Ultra (E2DLU-A), identical to the Tactical in other aspects, offers a low mode when the tail switch is clicked twice in rapid succession. The Streamlight ProTac HL-X’s 65 lumens prove great for walking around but are too bright for administrative tasks at close distance. The converse is true for the 5 lumens of SureFire’s.

Switch Ergonomics

The Streamlight ProTac HL-X features a click-type tail switch where light pressure provides momentary-only light, and press-until-click provides constant-on light. Placing one’s thumb across the switch with a low edge of crenellation against the distal and proximal phalange joint reliably activates momentary-only light without the possibility of constant-on for the straight-thumbed author, even with an uncomfortable amount of force. A curved thumb tester could activate constant-on light despite crenellation (see accompanying pictures for thumb shape differences).

There are three TEN-TAP modes: high/strobe/low, high-only and low/medium/high. Rapid momentary activation (taps) switches between submodes (e.g., cycle from high to strobe), while 10 such taps with the last one being a constant-on activation cycle between modes (“Streamlight TEN-TAP Programming,” YouTube, uploaded by Streamlight, Mar. 5 2019, youtube.com/watch?v=0czy-S10ca8). 

SureFire Defender features heavy crenellation, and the same aforementioned technique applies to activating momentary-only light. Like the ProTac HL-X, switch rubber is slightly tacky even with damp hands while the switch itself provides good audio and tactile feedback when it is in constant-on mode. While doing night shoot exercises, the author did not accidentally activate the constant-on mode after familiarization, and there was no doubt of constant-on when he did make errors. The aforementioned concern about constant-on and a curved thumb also applies to the SureFire Defender light. 

Pushing the tail switches of both the EDC2L-T and Tactician will activate momentary-only light, regardless of pressure; screwing in the cap activates constant-on light. The EDC2L-T features a “gas pedal” whereby a light push activates low output and a heavy push activates high output; minimal twisting activates low constant-on light while more twisting eventually activates high constant-on light. The Tactician switches output by screwing the head in fully for high and backed out slightly for low. Both lights exhibited a quirk where, if the tail switch was backed off constant-on less than 1/8 of a turn, one could press the tail cap (not switch) to activate the light. The author surmises this to be an unavoidable side effect of manufacturing tolerance. Both lights have exposed tail switches which facilitates employing the SureFire technique with rifles and pistols. The author’s bony hands preclude the SureFire pistol technique with the heavily crenellated Defender and make it difficult on the lightly crenellated Streamlight ProTac HL-X. 

Carry Comfort

All of these lights can be carried bezel-up or -down except the Tactician. Instead, it trades bezel-up-only for a stouter clip. The author found both bezel-up or -down to deploy easily. For bezel-up, he points his thumb along the light, grasps the body with other fingers, withdraws and rotates to face bezel downrange; this became second nature with some practice. 

Carrying in cargo pockets can be comfortable even with larger diameter or longer lights although drawing requires one to slightly stoop. This method also swings slightly when walking which reduces consistency when drawing. 

The author prefers carrying in the lower corner of his slash pocket, as it provides an easy index for locating the light. In this position, larger diameter or aggressively crenellated bezels have dug into his thigh when sitting and the light was carried bezel-down. He has carried all four lights bezel-up, with no accidental activation or lens damage. Comfort is a very personal quality, and these tactical lights provide options to fit various body shapes and dress styles. 

Conclusion 

All the examined tactical lights here are high-output, easy-to-use and reliable. Someone frequenting urban centers might prefer a spot pattern light (e.g., Streamlight’s ProTac HL-X) to better “punch through” artificial lighting, while another area with little light pollution might benefit from a flood pattern light (e.g., SureFire’s Tactician) for wider vision. Even with 1,000 lumens, these lights still cannot comfortably address adverse lighting scenarios such as a loiterer shadowed by a tree and overhead parking lot lights. These tools are no replacement for good situational awareness. 

Daily attire should also be considered; smaller lights better fit an office worker’s slacks, while larger ones can comfortably fit a tradesman’s belt. Given the plethora of options, the reader is sure to find a tactical light that fits his use case. 

Let there be light! 

The Need

I’ve had students ask what firearm I recommend for home protection. There are three that come to mind, the pistol, rifle and shotgun. Many will argue that the rifle and shotgun are more efficient than a pistol with larger calibers and ease of firing. Hollywood leads you to believe that the sound of the shotgun “rack” or rifle “bolt-slam” will stop a situation “in its tracks.” A draw back to both is their size, maneuverability in close quarters and over penetration or scattering of the projectile(s). I argue that the pistol is relatively easy to conceal or hide, can be stashed in various locations throughout the home and can be equipped with night sights, lasers and flashlights. It may not have the sound “that strikes fear,” but it’s easier to maneuver in crowded conditions, and therefore is my recommendation.

If you want to have all three available for home protection, then consider making each comfortable to handle and control, particularly if you’re grip and strength challenged. According to a recent article in the NRA’s American Rifleman, Kelly Young, Managing Editor, wrote an excellent article on “The Aging Defender.” In the article, reference is made that “Age-related physical decline is inevitable, but there are ways for armed citizens to both slow and circumvent it through behavioral and equipment changes.” Behavioral changes are as simple as changing your diet or increasing your physical activity. Equipment changes may require you to downsize (i.e., having to give up your COLT 1911 .45 for a Smith & Wesson M&P.380 Shield), or if you are fond of your current firearm, you can modify it without having to give up what you love. For any of the three methods, a “more aggressive surface on the grip area” may be all you need for better control of the firearm, during firing and recoil. That’s where TALON Grips and Tips come into play.

The Application

“Users of TALON Grips benefit from improved control, comfort and precision which increases safety, confidence and enjoyment while shooting.” A certain level of confidence with a firearm, leads to competence in its usage. Therefore, applying a more aggressive surface to the grip area of all three firearms will give comfort and precision without having to downsize to something else. If you’re grip challenged and love a certain firearm(s) there is no reason to downsize or sell what you enjoy. 

The Solution

My Remington 870 has a unique forearm. This was a popular design and has the high gloss finish of the 1960’s. Its slippery finish includes the area where the fingers grip the inset groove during its racking. The grasp of the forearm could be slick due to weather or “age-related physical decline.” TALON Grips sent two DIY 5×7-inch material sheets of granulate and rubber texture (one each), so the material could be cut to fit the design of the forearm groove. After designing what is needed for the groove on a plain piece of paper, it is transferred to the granulate texture sheet and applied to the grooved area. The bottom of the forearm is already sharply checkered, needing no enhancement. The handgrip of the shotgun, also of the same 1960’s finish, could use some of the rubber texture to assist the gripping quality without being harsh on the hand. It’s something I chose not to do at this time but have the material in the event I change my mind. In the event the granulated texture is too harsh, a TALON Tip recommends the use of 120-grit sandpaper to make the grip less abrasive.

I am more proficient with my pistol for home protection and competition. Even though the current hand grip on the Smith & Wesson M&P.380 Shield has a roughened exterior, I’ve found movement of my grip still occurs during shooting. It’s ever so slight, but noticeable. TALON Grips sent a specifically designed grip for the M&P which I applied to better eliminate that movement. I chose the rubber texture over the granulate one. The rubber would be better for the softer palm area of the hand. I use this pistol during my classes, and the ladies who use it haven’t toughened their hands when shooting. One of the most common comments is the comfort or lack of it in a tight grip.

When applying the rubber grip to the pistol, I had to consciously keep from stretching the rubberized material. In removing the backing, the rubber kept sticking to my fingers, and I feared the rubber would stick to itself. It took me a while to finally attach the material; I did have to reposition it several times. I was mindful of the TALON Tip, “Never allow any portion of the grip to cover the magazine release button.” The repositioning was not a problem, but keeping air bubbles from forming under the material and material folds when laying the material flat became a challenge. Eventually, it was properly positioned. A TALON Tip recommended cleaning the grip with rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth to enhance the rubber texture. I also used a rubber trigger index point for the positioning of my finger alongside the frame and a reminder of where to rest my finger when not engaging the trigger.

I misidentified the grip on the AR-15. The design that TALON Grips sent was for the MOE. However, I was able to adapt the material with slight changes. Because my AR-15 grip had finger grooves, I cut horizontal lines into the right side of the granulate texture design so I could wrap it into the grooves. I could have 

Applying the TALON Grip

Ten simple steps in applying the aggressive surface (granulate or rubber texture) will easily transform what you currently love to shoot into several choices for home protection and even competition:

1. Unload and FIELD STRIP the firearm for safety.
2. With the backing still on the TALON Grip, do a TEST FIT to ensure you have the correct grip and to understand how the grip fits the firearm.
3. Use ONLY RUBBING ALCOHOL to CLEAN the
   pistol grip area removing any dirt or oil. The firearm must be completely dry before continuing. For improved cleaning, use extra rubbing alcohol and a small brush in addition to the supplied alcohol swabs.
4. Remove the backing.
5. Starting with the left side, ALIGN the TALON Grip with the front and bottom of the factory pistol grip (A and B), maintaining a consistent reveal around the magwell (some grips have graphic cutouts which may help with proper alignment).
6. DO NOT STRETCH; gently WRAP the grip onto pre-vent trapping air. Make sure the grip is properly cen- tered on the backstrap (C).
7. Very lightly wrap the finger strip(s) (D) evenly around the front of the pistol. TUCK any excess material UNDER the left side panel (A). If the TALON Grip is misaligned, gently peel back the grip, reposition and reapply as many times as needed.
8. When the TALON Grip is properly aligned, HEAT it with a hair dryer or heat gun to the temperature of a warm cup of coffee and PRESS FIRMLY into place. DO NOT HEAT OVER 130 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
9. REPEAT this step several times, confirming the TALON Grip to the gun’s factory grip.
10. Pay attention to pressing down firmly all outside edges including the backstrap.”

also created a grip from scratch from the additional DIY 5×7-inch material sheets. 

I did not follow the TALON Tip which recommended that I contact customer support if the grip was not properly fitting. They would have sent me the proper grip design, and I would not have violated the TALON Tip, “Trimming the grip is not necessary.” A lesson learned!

The Result

With grip material applied to all three firearms, under good weather conditions I had better retention while shooting. Even with wet or sweaty hands when under stress my response would benefit from the added grip. The Trigger Index Points in both rubber and granular are a subtle reminder of the second rule of firearms safety: “Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.” With over 300 different grips in both granulate and rubber textures you can customize any firearm. The stick-on grips and points are offered at a very affordable price and are available in rubber-black, rubber-moss and granulate-black materials for different applications and user preferences. TALON Grips was founded in 2009 by a law enforcement officer, who is also a competitive shooter, firearm’s instructor and armorer. TALON Grips is 100% made in the USA and here to “enhance shooter comfort, consistency and weapon retention for law enforcement, military, competitive shooters and the general public.”

Home defense can happen in any weather. With TALON Grips you’ll be ready. Let TALON Grips and Tips be your three-gun solution. 

Just what exactly separates mankind from the apes? Geneticists tell us there isn’t much more than a couple percentage points’ difference in DNA between your typical human politician and a chimpanzee. Admittedly, that’s perhaps not the best example of the human archetype. However, aside from a relative dearth of body hair and an insensate attachment to vacuous daytime television, Homo sapiens’ primary functional difference from our simian brethren is our remarkable proclivity for contriving tools.

Before we have to field reams of irate missives from angry monkey apologists, I acknowledge that apes can and do indeed use tools. However, there is a broad gulf between running a stick into an anthill to fetch insects for one’s dinner and designing the latest iPhone. This deep into the Information Age, mankind’s capacity to engineer contraptions with which he might manipulate his environment truly defies categorization. Additionally, it strikes me that “angry monkey apologists” would be a great name for either an intramural football team or a rock band.

Gerber Cred

Amidst a limitless sea of cool, man-portable hardware, Gerber’s lineup reigns supreme for its functionality, portability and field-proven ruggedness. Back when I was an Army Aviator, a Gerber Multi-Plier was my constant companion. The pliers deployed with a flick of the wrist in the manner of a Fallschirmjäger gravity knife. 

That marvelous thing and I travelled the world together, removing inspection covers on Army helicopters, building survival shelters, cleaning underneath my fingernails, squeezing things and reverently opening care packages from home. Alas, as near as I might ascertain, I snagged my beloved Multi-Plier on some brush and unwittingly donated that magnificent tool to the vast Alaskan wilderness someplace. That extraordinary Multi-Plier will forever occupy a warm spot in my heart. May it rest in peace.

No kidding, the totality of cool Gerber tools is legitimately overwhelming. Amongst sundry knives, scissors, skinners, wrenches, files, pliers, tomahawks, glass breakers and seatbelt cutters, the Short Stack is optimized to support Gene Stoner’s classic black rifle. Offering phenomenal capabilities in a package small enough to hide inside a Magpul MOE or MIAD pistol grip, the Short Stack will help keep your favorite modern sporting rifle shooting straight and running reliably without a significant weight or space penalty. You can tuck a snippet of cleaning rag into the grip with the tool to keep it from rattling. The number of features the good folks at the Gerber skunk works crammed into this thing is frankly surreal (gerbergear.com). 

Multifunction Madness 

The Short Stack AR tool comes with a comic-book-style instruction sheet that demonstrates all its sundry features. As a card-carrying American male, it pains me to admit this, but you might want to take a glance at the instructions before you just dive in. I wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to open the thing up unassisted, and I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering. (EDITOR’S NOTE: All male readers need to commend Dr. Dabbs on his public candor in admitting the masculine shortcoming of not reading directions. He should have started with “Hi, I’m Will, and … I’m a guy …” and Will, we do have female readers, so you’ve kind of let that cat out of the bag now.) 

Once you get the technique down there is literally nothing to it, however. The three major components are cut from blackened 410 stainless steel and held in place with those preternaturally strong rare earth magnets. A little rubber doodad holds a pair of tool bits. The whole shebang just drips with pure, unfiltered awesome. 

In addition to the expected Gerber level of quality throughout, the Short Stack has the function of each aspect of the tool helpfully printed on the outside. Some of these features you will use more than others, but it is just super cool to have such versatility in such a compact portable package. The Gerber Short Stack is proudly made in the USA and is supported by a superb limited lifetime warranty.

Mechanical Details

The Short Stack is purpose-designed to support the AR-15 family of weapons. Some of its features might obliquely translate to your AK or GLOCK, but it is Gene Stoner’s Space Age wonder that most benefits from the device. From the size of the wrenches to the peculiar mechanical esoterica, the Short Stack makes maintaining your black rifle easier, cleaner, faster and safer.

There is a handy front sight adjustment tool. Back in my day, we had to undertake this chore with the point of a bullet. Considering we didn’t typically have scads of live rounds just sitting around in a training environment this made front sight adjustments a chore of the highest order. With the Short Stack just push down and twist to zero your front sight for elevation.

The direct gas impingement system of the AR-15 is a mature, reliable and accurate mechanism. However, it is also undeniably filthy. Run a couple hundred rounds through your home defense AR, and its entrails start to look like the bottom of your barbecue grill. The Short Stack includes purpose-designed tools to help you efficiently de-gunk your black gun. 

A firing pin cleaning tool is designed such that you can run the firing pin into a three-lobed slot and use it to help access those hard-to-reach places where carbon fouling tends to hide. The bolt carrier scraper fits perfectly down the front of the bolt carrier and helps you remove carbon buildup deep in its recesses. A sharp-edged scraper helps you get rid of that pesky stuff that clings so tenaciously to the tail of the bolt itself as well. 

There is a slot that will accept a cleaning cable pull-through so you can keep your bore squeaky clean. One threaded component of the rig will accept a standard GI chamber or bore brush and provide the leverage you need to do some proper scrubbing. The rare earth magnets that hold everything together do double duty as a small parts holder. I look back without fondness to the several times I have been in the midst of some mechanical travail with some deadlined weapon and mislaid that one tiny little widget I needed to get it back up and running. These magnetized bits help keep little pins and springs from wandering. 

Down here in the Deep South, it can be considered child abuse if you let your high school graduate leave the house for college without having built at least one AR rifle together. The Short Stack includes a buffer tube lock nut wrench that lets you snug the castle nut down or slip it off without lugging an institutional toolbox to the range. There is also a ¾-inch wrench designed to help manipulate standard black rifle flash suppressors. Hook two of the three components together to enhance leverage and subsequent mechanical advantage for those particularly beefy tasks. 

I have seen some factory flash suppressors that took a heavy automotive wrench and an ample breaker bar to get loose. The Short Stack likely won’t help you much there. However, sound suppressors are expensive, and that onerous $200 transfer tax is hardly front pocket change. It therefore behooves us to use one can across as many platforms as possible. With the Short Stack, removing flash suppressors to thread on a can may be undertaken comfortably at the bench.

A 7mm wrench stabilizes the nut on a standard M-LOK fastener. An interchangeable driver accepts the hex bit needed to manage the other end of the M-LOK bolt. With the Short Stack tucked into your Magpul pistol grip, you can swap out forearm accessories on the go.

There is a 4mm wrench as well as a small Phillips screwdriver included among the interchangeable bits; ½-inch and 3/8-inch wrenches round out the mechanical ensemble. Other unlisted applications are limited solely by your imagination.

Practicalities

Back when I wore the uniform, we spent untold hours scrubbing away at our old M16A1 rifles until they met the armorer’s exacting standards of cleanliness. That sadist wasn’t satisfied until we had those weapons cleaner than when they first left the factory. Even back then we improvised tools to help us with this onerous chore.

Somebody would typically bring a can or two of brake cleaner until one young stud got squirted in the eye with it and had to go to the hospital. We could manage automatic grenade launchers and multimillion dollar helicopters, but we apparently lacked the dexterity and maturity to wield a spray can. The guy’s eye was red and angry for a while, but it turned out fine.

My favorite tool back in the day was improvised out of a piece of coat hanger wire. I banged the end into a little steel fan and gave the wire a jaunty bend to craft a monkey-made version of what Gerber did so much better. My homebuilt scraper helped dig carbon out of the nose of the bolt carrier but still missed quite a bit. By contrast, the Gerber Short Stack is perfectly dimensioned for this purpose.

Practical Tactical

These days I don’t have some perennially agitated arms room custodian running white cloth through the entrails of my weapons to ensure that they are flawlessly maintained. As a result, many of the guns in my collection that don’t sit next to the door for the inevitable day the zombies come are not kept as tidy as perhaps should be the case. To put the Short Stack through a proper test I picked something truly gross and nasty, stripped it down to pins and springs and proceeded to channel my inner Basic trainee.

Suffice to say I would love to have had one of these little jewels back in the day. The Short Stack helps get into those hard-to reach places where the First Sergeant always knew to look for that last scrap of carbon that would sentence you to another hour of scrubbing through your already fairly clean weapon. While cleaning weapons is still messy, tedious, and gross, the Short Stack does indeed make it markedly less thus.

Ruminations

Operate within the limitations of the device. The Short Stack is not the optimal tool to try to torque off that flash suppressor that someone at the SIG SAUER factory installed with a hydraulic press. However, once the muzzle device is ever so slightly dislodged, the Short Stack will keep things plenty tight for any imaginable tactical scenario.

The beauty of Gerber’s multifunction tools is that they let you do more with less. The sheer volume of full-sized conventional tools that would be required to do what this tiny little device can manage would be adequate to fill a proper tacklebox. By dropping the Short Stack into your pocket, tactical vest or pistol grip, however, you can do most of the stuff you need to do to keep your service rifle running smoothly and well without adding undue strain to that grueling 15-mile ruck march. If your day job does not involve humping the Hindu Kush, the Short Stack minimizes mechanical frustrations during a pleasant Saturday afternoon at the range.

Rugged, inspired and brilliantly executed, the Gerber Short Stack is the Swiss Army Knife of gun maintenance tools. Small enough to tuck into some of the most unremarkable places yet sufficiently capable to warrant inclusion in the most discriminating loadout or range bag, the Short Stack is a lot of tool for the money. It also keeps us reliably ahead of the monkeys. 

What could you do with your own personal trained snake? You’d be the coolest boy in second grade, and you could sit anywhere you wanted at any public gathering. You might never get married, but the fun you could have scaring people would almost, though not quite, make up for it. You could also open up some of the most remarkable exploration opportunities. 

Fiber-optic endoscopes are in common use in a variety of commercial applications. Automotive mechanics use them to keep an eye on the inner workings of your car’s engine. Plumbers employ them to investigate pesky clogs in hard-to-reach spaces. ENT doctors use them to explore your sinus cavities, while colorectal surgeons utilize the same technology to investigate cavities of a somewhat less sociable sort. Now thanks to the EndoSnake 3.9mm fiber-optic borescope (endosnake.com), normal folks like us can also harness this technology for gun maintenance as well as general curiosity satisfaction. 

The scopes used by your automobile mechanic can cost as much as a decent black rifle. The device the GI doc shoves up your behind will set you back as much as my car. I drive a crummy car, but they are still expensive. No kidding, I priced them online. Even used, which is itself an unsettling thought, a decent colonoscope costs thousands of dollars. Then there is the EndoSnake.

Your Own Trained Snake

The good folks who produce the EndoSnake worked hard to craft a device small enough to navigate the .22-caliber bore of an AR-15 rifle. The 3.9mm EndoSnake includes its own LED illumination source and links up with your smartphone, tablet or computer. Six separate LED lights keep things bright even in the darkest places, and the EndoSnake is IP67 waterproof.

This thing is also tough. I live in the Deep South. The last time I ran over a water moccasin in my truck I bought myself some ice cream to celebrate. In the EndoSnake promotional video they show someone running over an EndoSnake with a truck with no ill effects. Treat the EndoSnake with even the most cursory respect, and it should outlive you.

720p resolution renders a nice digital picture, and you can capture both still images and video via the free Mo-View app. There is a great warranty, and the EndoSnake is available in 3-, 6- and 15-foot versions. The 3-foot EndoSnake costs $49.99. For the price of a meal out at McDonald’s with the kids you can keep track of bore erosion, ensure that your rifle is indeed Basic Training clean and secure a cockroach-eye view of most anything in your home.

How Does It Work?

The science behind fiber-optic technology is indeed fascinating. Back in 1852, a British scientist named John Tyndall observed the effect water had on light rays. Anyone who has ever gone bowfishing is intimately familiar with this concept. When hunting fish with a bow and arrow you do not loose the arrow where you see the fish. You fire where you learn that the fish actually is based upon the refraction of its image. This same principle governs every telescopic weapon sight on the planet.

Reflection is the tendency of certain surfaces to bounce light back toward its source. Refraction is the property of certain materials to bend light in predictable ways. Each transparent material has a unique angle beyond which light will reflect rather than refract. For water this critical angle is just over 48 degrees. Flint glass is about 38 degrees. The diamond that graces my beautiful wife’s finger is 23 degrees. 

This property made for a nifty parlor trick among really smart people back in the late 1800s. Around the advent of the 20th century, physicians began using bent glass rods to illuminate hard-to-reach body cavities. In the 1950s scientists determined a way to use flexible fibers to transmit images yet more efficiently. In each application the light rays just glance from side to side as they transit the glass tube, following the geometry of the device as they go. 

By the 1970s advances in optical quality and glass production allowed very thin fibers of remarkably pure glass to be produced inexpensively. The purity of the glass drives the attenuation or loss of signal quality per unit distance. The holy melding of fiber optics and laser technology birthed the telecommunication revolution. Every time you make a long-distance phone call or use the internet you are enjoying the fruits of this tech. 

One of the obvious questions that arises when you study this stuff is how do they get glass to bend so much? As we all know, glass is fairly brittle stuff. When the AT&T installer was running the fiber-optic cable to my home for my spanking new high-speed internet service, I asked him that very question. Here’s what he told me.

Imagine a rod of glass the size of a broomstick. If you lock one end of the rod in a vice and exert a force on the other end the rod will bend a bit and then shatter. The amount of deflection you can coax out of the rod is a function of its diameter. The smaller the diameter, the greater the deflection. 

Now shrink that rod down until the diameter is just stupid tiny, less than a human hair, and its capacity for deflection becomes simply breathtaking. You can still crimp it back on itself and break the filament, but at those small diameters you can store it in rolls or use it to build inexpensive fiber-optic scopes. These scopes use clusters of tiny filaments rather than larger diameter tubes to maximize their flexibility.

How Does It Run?

If you can manage a smartphone without consulting a third grader you can master this device. The EndoSnake comes with fittings for USB, Micro USB and Android ports. There aren’t really any instructions, but the paperwork that comes with the device directs you to their “How-To” videos online. Like most Information Age tech, you ultimately master the device simply by fiddling with it.

Plug the EndoSnake in, and it powers itself up automatically. There is but a single manual control, and that is an intensity rheostat for the LED illuminators. Add on an inexpensive Wi-Fi module available on EndoSnake’s website and you can use the EndoSnake wirelessly some distance from your device.

The app lets you take video or shoot still images from the EndoSnake feed. The device captures audio as well, though the soundtrack of me exploring the entrails of an AR-15 would hardly be Oscar material. The practical applications are limited solely by your imagination.

What Will It Do?

The EndoSnake does a simply spanking job of exploring and documenting the state of your weapon’s bore. Mine is 3 feet long, but most of my gun barrels are substantially shorter than 36 inches. If you needed to perform gun maintenance in an adjacent room, the longer EndoSnakes are obviously available.

I used my EndoSnake to see lots of gun stuff I had never seen before. Ever wonder whether or not you got every smidgeon of crud out from underneath the hammer in your AR? Do you have a sneaky suspicion that the greasy guy at the gun show who claims that the bore on the gun he wants to sell you is pristine might be fudging a bit? The EndoSnake will answer those questions and much, much more. At a mere 3.9mm across, the EndoSnake will get into some of the tightest spaces.

I employed my EndoSnake to take a peek behind my rear molars, explore my tonsillar beds and verify that I do lamentably have hairy ears. That stuff is tough to see otherwise. Nobody is flexible enough to visualize their own ears.

The EndoSnake works in open spaces as well. I crept up behind my wife while she was reading and used my EndoSnake to peek over her shoulder surreptitiously. It turns out women don’t much care for that. 

Use your imagination without being creepy, and the Endoscope can be a source of both education and amusement. I discovered all sorts of interesting things. Even clean weapons are really dirty down deep. I am endlessly thankful the NCOs who used to clear my weapons back into the arms room when I wore the uniform did not themselves have one of these remarkable devices. Were that the case I’d still be sitting on some bench someplace with a bottle of Break Free® scrubbing those rifles. And I got out of the Army in 1997.

The sheer volume of lint that accumulates within the entrails of your typical pocket gun is absolutely astounding. I found this unsettling. Considering I’m expecting that thing to operate flawlessly should I ever need to fish it out in a crisis I had let its interior state go well off the rails. Just wiping down the outside is utterly insufficient. The EndoSnake did guilt me into doing a better job of maintaining my carry guns. 

Limitations 

There aren’t very many. The lighted end of the EndoSnake gets fairly hot. That’s a handy way of reminding yourself not to get too carried away trying to peek into obscure physiological orifices. Your weapons obviously won’t care. 

The resolution of the device is not quite HD movie quality, but it is way more than adequate. There wasn’t any hard-to-reach curiosity in which I was interested that I could not satisfy with the EndoSnake. For the money it makes a splendid toy with a lot of real-world practicality. 

Final Thoughts 

I’ve dropped $50 on lots simpler things than this. The EndoSnake is great fun and opens up some fascinating new worlds all at an unnaturally reasonable price. This thing is built like a dump truck and folds up into the neatest compact carrying case. Even if you don’t use it all the time it will drop into a crevice of your gun box and be available the next time you need it. 

I found the Wi-Fi box to be a handy addition simply for its convenience. Using this nifty trinket, I could maneuver the EndoSnake some distance from my laptop or phone and still keep up with progress on the screen. The rechargeable battery in the box lasts a long time. 

I thought I was cool back in the ‘80s when I bought a little J-shaped plastic rod at a gun show that allowed me to shine a light down the bore of my gun. Now with the EndoSnake I can peek into literally every little crevice and corner and record the proceedings while I’m at it. I used the EndoSnake to kill a delightful evening around the house peering inside such stuff as my computer printer, a pencil sharpener and the microwave. The practical benefits of finding stuff I dropped behind the deep freeze or on the cluttered floor of the gun room will be made more clearly manifest in the weeks and months to come. 

Effective, capable, rugged, reliable and inexpensive, the EndoSnake is the cool new gun widget you didn’t know you needed. At a mere 50 bucks, the EndoSnake also makes a great birthday gift or stocking stuffer for your favorite gun buddy as well. While you can’t take it for a walk, teach it neat tricks, snuggle up with it on a cold winter’s night or use it to frighten people for your own amusement, the EndoSnake nonetheless has its own salient attributes. This remarkable device is markedly cooler than any trained snake. 

Instead of writing the usual firearms article, I decided to go another route and write about how this rifle got adopted by the U.S. Military, specifically Special Operations command. The Federal Acquisitions process is notoriously difficult to navigate, but sometimes if people put their ego aside and admit they don’t know everything, it can work out. 

My involvement in the Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR) program began with my involvement in its predecessor, the Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR). I started working at the 1st Special Forces Command Force Modernization office as a combat developer in the summer of 2015. My first assignment was to see the failing PSR project over the finish line. The program had been struggling for the last year and was in jeopardy of being cancelled. A combination of poorly written performance specifications on the government’s behalf, and a vendor that was unwilling or unable to fix the simplest problems had left the program in a mess. 

The final straw came when the selected PSR was unable to meet the accuracy requirement. Since the minimum number of rifles had already been purchased, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) decided not to buy any more, and the government walked away. This was a tough and costly decision, but the prevailing opinion was that it would be quicker and less expensive to start again using the lessons learned. 

As the lead combat developer for weapons and ammunition in 1st SFC (A), this became a big part of my life for the next 3 years. I should explain that due to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) the DoD cannot simply purchase whatever it wants. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) write performance specifications (P-SPECS) which are released to industry, the submission is built around those P-SPECS, and a full and open competition is done in the interest of fairness and to avoid corruption. 

Applying the Lessons 

If one good thing came out of the failure of the PSR, lessons were, in fact, learned. I read every document written, and it became clear that all the way through SF Command from the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and SOCOM, there were acquisition personnel involved in this process who didn’t understand ballistics. The first order of business was to get everyone on the same sheet of music. In the fall of 2015, every Acquisition Officer, DoD civilian and green suiter who had a decision on this rifle met in a cabin in a dry county in the Texas panhandle. I think it was Harry S. Truman who said, “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit.” 

We had in attendance combat developers and experts from Special Forces, Ranger Regiment, Naval Special Warfare, the U.S. Marine Corps, engineers from Picatinny and Crane, as well as the USASOC G8 Colonel Lynn Ashley and the SOCOM Program Manager Major Aaron Hauquitz. Ballistician Bryan Litz from Applied Ballistics flew in on his own dime to teach ballistics classes for 2 days and lend his expertise. The event was hosted by Todd Hodnett of Accuracy 1st who led the training for most snipers in Special Operations across the board. 

We had over a dozen rifles that we weighted and measured to see what was possible. We tested triggers, talked about rails, barrels, chassis and calibers. Once we agreed on a P-SPEC, we all went outside and shot it to make sure it was practical, testable and achievable. We knew from experience we had to choose the bullet first and have the rifle built around it. The bullet and the gun are a team and can’t be separated. Later we would test dozens of projectiles on a Doppler radar and pick the top five for terminal ballistics tests. At the end of this week we had set this program up for success and moved toward a greater capability in the hands of the service member, the priority from the onset. 

The ASR is a long-range sniper rifle in three different calibers, .308, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum (NM). The .308 is strictly a training round because of range restrictions throughout the U.S. It would be difficult to shoot the .300NM or .338 NM round. It is also a fantastic round for learning how to call wind as it is so heavily affected. The .300NM is the anti-personnel round for engagements out to 1,500m. The Berger 215-grain hybrid was selected after SOCOM tested 24 different projectiles on a 2,000m Doppler radar and then tested the top five rounds on ballistic gel for terminal effects. The .338NM is a 300-grain, anti-material round that will replace the Barrett M107 .50 cal. It will be used against material targets such as radar dishes and soft skin vehicles. 

The ASR was selected in a three-phase approach. Phase 1 was technical specs: Rifles were weighted, measured and all the technical specifications were checked. Rifles were fired from the shoulder to ensure sub-MOA precision at 100m. 

Phase 2 was an endurance test. Sand, wind, dust, extreme hot and cold temperatures and barrel life. 

Phase 3 was user assessment. Trained snipers from all branches would test the rifle in realistic conditions for 2 weeks. 

By the time Phases 1 and 2 were complete, only the Barrett MK22 Mod 0 remained in the competition having met or exceeded all requirements. As a separate program, the Nightforce® ATACR 7-35×56 with the TReMoR3 reticle won the contract for the scope. The best scope with the best reticle on the best long-range rifle in the world. 

Conclusion 

All in all, my experiences with the ASR gave me confidence in the acquisition process when you corral the experts and take a scientific approach. The truth is in the data, and the data revealed the Barrett MK22 Mod 0 ASR. It was a pleasure and satisfaction in my 20-plus year Special Operations career to be part of something that will ultimately lead to more capable and more prepared service members on the battlefield. 

The author with the Barrett MK22 Mod 0 ASR in the Arizona mountains. 

Performance Specs 

The following are specs we developed per P-SPECs released to industry (open source) and the Capability Production Document (CPD). 

T = Threshold is the bare minimum we will accept 

O = Objective is what we really want 

3.5. Weapons control requirements 

3.5.1. Action 

a. The ASR shall be manual in operation (T). 

b. The ASR shall be available in right-handed configuration (T), ambidextrous (O). 

c. The ASR shall be capable of being operated without the operator having to break cheek weld (T). 

d. The ASR action shall maintain smooth and consistent operation and have no degradation of operation throughout the life of the weapon (T). 

e. The ASR shall be capable of closing the bolt on an empty magazine (T). 

f. The ASR shall incorporate single-round loading, without insertion into an empty magazine, through the ejection port (T). 

3.5.2. Trigger 

a. Trigger pull shall be consistent from pull to pull with a fixed pull weight of 2.5lb (+/- 0.5lb) for a minimum of 10,000 rounds (T); 20,000 rounds (O). 

b. The trigger shall reset after being released, even if the weapon is not fired (T). 

c. The hammer/firing pin/striker shall not be released or override the sear when exposed to rough handling conditions when safety is activated (T), when safety is not engaged (O). 

cess when you corral the experts and take a scientific approach. The truth is in the data, and the data revealed the Barrett MK22 Mod 0 ASR. It was a pleasure and satisfaction in my 20-plus year Special Operations career to be part of something that will ultimately lead to more capable and more prepared service members on the battlefield. 

During World War I, little had happened in Italy in terms of semiautomatic rifles. The country was too busy with the burden of the War. It was only after the War that some developments slowly took shape and the Italian military became interested in semiautomatic weapons.

In the years before World War II, the well-known armaments manufacturer Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche (SIEB) in Brescia worked on an automatic rifle. At that time, the Italian Armed Forces already had the light machine gun Model 30, machine cannons and larger guns from Breda in use. Breda’s chief designer Sestilio Fiorini designed the Moschetto Automatico Breda Modello PG (Presa Gas), a gas-operated weapon in 6.5x52mm that fires from the closed bolt. 

Overall, the weapon is fairly complex, expensive to manufacture and tricky to clean and repair under field conditions. Via some holes in the barrel near the muzzle, the gas pressure acts on a movable tube that is slipped over the barrel. At its rear end, the tube merges into a push rod. Another tube around this assembly acts as protection and also carries the front sight. The recoil spring is accessible via a hinged lid on the underside of the forestock. The two-piece bolt has only one central locking lug located on its top. On its way toward the chamber, the bolt head is raised by lateral guide rails inside the receiver, and when the front position is reached, the lug locks in a corresponding recess. The ammunition is fed from attachable magazines with a capacity of 20, 30 and 50 rounds. The magazine lips only extend over a quarter of the magazine length. The other part of the lips is permanently integrated in the receiver at the bottom of the magazine well. The idea was to reduce feeding problems caused by bent magazine lips. The release button is located on the right side of the magazine well. 

Enter Costa Rica 

The Italian Army did not acquire a liking for the weapon during testing. Breda then offered it on the international market and finally won Costa Rica as a customer in 1935. However, to fulfil Costa Rica’s wishes, some design changes were necessary. The weapon had to be chambered for the 7x57mm Mauser cartridge, which is widely used in Latin America, and a complex fire selector was desired. In addition to the single-shot and semiautomatic modes, the weapon should be able to fire four-round bursts instead of unlimited fully automatic fire. Breda changed the way the weapon worked, and now it fired from the open bolt. Of course, this is not ideal for use under adverse conditions, since dirt can easily get into the system. The Breda PG has a solid milled dust cover, but it only protects the bolt in its forward, uncocked position. When cocking the bolt, the dust cover is pushed back and snaps into place at the rear end of the receiver. It does not reciprocate with the moving bolt during firing, and the soldier had to carry his cocked weapon with an open bolt through the jungle of Costa Rica.

Burst Control Construction

The mechanism of the burst control is an interesting construction. A rotatable gearwheel is located above the trigger. When the bolt slides back, it pushes down a spring-loaded rod projecting into the way of the bolt, which in turn hits a tooth of the gearwheel. The wheel turns by one position, and the rod moves up again. This process is repeated as long as the trigger remains depressed or four rounds are fired. Then the trigger sear snaps up and catches the bolt. The mechanism works very reliably. However, there is one disadvantage: the gearwheel does not start counting from zero. If the shooter releases the trigger after less than four shots fired, the weapon will only fire the remaining number of shots at the next burst. Only then does a new count to four begin again. That means that the first burst is always a surprise for the shooter, because he does not know the position of the gearwheel. The fire selection lever is placed directly behind the trigger and affects its mobility. Depending on the position of the lever, the trigger can be pulled all the way through (burst), just a little (single-shot) or not at all (safe). The Costa Rican government was satisfied and ordered 400 pieces. The standard bayonet of the local rifles also fit the adapted bayonet lug.

Fascist Era Markings

The weapon discussed in this article with serial number 300 bears the Costa Rican inventory number 7 and comes from the collection of the late cartridge expert William H. Woodin. Interestingly enough, the year of manufacture, “1935,” is stamped on the receiver in two different calendar eras. With the seizure of power by the Fascists in 1922, the new rulers introduced a new era: the first day of the first year of the Era Fascista was marked by the swearing-in of Benito Mussolini as Prime Minister on October 29, 1922. The “XIII” is therefore a Roman 13 and thus also stands for 1935. 

This particular weapon was used at Aberdeen Proving Ground at the end of the 1970s when the burst-control device for the A2 version of the M16 assault rifle was developed. The reason for this development was the waste of ammunition and a poor performance of most soldiers firing their rifles in fully automatic mode. As with the Breda PG, the M16A2 features a gearwheel, stops firing after three rounds, and the number of shots on the first burst is a surprise. 

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The author thanks Morphy Auctions/James D. Julia Auctioneers and Ian McCollum (forgottenweapons.com) for their information and photos. 

SAVAGE ARMS 

110 Ultralite Rifle 

Savage teamed up with PROOF Research once again to craft a barrel specific for a purpose-driven firearm. At 6 pounds and under, the 110 Ultralite is designed to combat elevation and elements while maintaining the performance of a factory blueprinted Savage 110 action. The carbon fiber wrapped stainless steel barrel and melonite-treated, skeletonized receiver minimize weight for success on any mountain hunt. The rifle comes equipped with Savage’s AccuFit technology with adjustable length of pull and comb height to provide hunters with optimum fit and performance. The 1.5 4-pound user-adjustable AccuTrigger allows crisp, clean shots to close out successful hunts. savagearms.com 

STREAMLIGHT

Rechargeable Waypoint 300 

Streamlight, Inc., launched the Waypoint 300, a rechargeable high lumen, pistol grip spotlight with enhanced downrange lighting capability. Featuring 270,000 candelas, a 1,039m beam distance and 1,000 lumens on high, the Waypoint 300’s powerful long-range targeting beam is portable and runs for 3.75 to 87 hours on high, medium and low, respectively. 

The Waypoint 300 uses power LED technology and a deep-dish parabolic reflector for long-range targeting with optimum peripheral illumination. On the medium setting, the light offers 550 lumens, 135,000 candelas and a 735m beam distance. On low, the light provides 35 lumens and 10,000 candelas, with a beam distance of 200m. The new light uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery that fully charges in 4 hours. 

The rugged Waypoint 300 features an unbreakable polycarbonate lens and is O-ring-sealed. With a trigger-style switch for momentary or click on/off operation, the light boasts a cushioned handle grip that eliminates hand fatigue. The lightweight Waypoint 300 weighs 1.52 pounds and measures 6.75 inches long by 7.14 inches high. It features an IPX8-rated design for waterproof operation to 2m and is impact-resistant to 1m. streamlight.com

TACTICA DEFENSE FASHION 

Bag Collection 

Known as one of the best contemporary concealed carry handbag manufacturers for a while now, Tactica Defense Fashion recently introduced an entire collection of bags. Of course, each purse has a separate holster slot fitting any woman’s favorite firearm, but it also has plenty of pockets. tacticafashion.com

SIG SAUER, INC.

Subsonic .300BLK Tipped Hunting Ammunition

SIG SAUER has added a 205-grain subsonic .300BLK load to its Tipped Hunting line of ammunition. The new subsonic .300BLK ammunition features a yellow-tipped, 205-grain, lead-core bullet designed for explosive expansion and exceptional accuracy. This load uses the same high-quality, single-base extruded powders as SIG Match Grade rounds, ensuring consistent muzzle velocity and insensitivity to temperature change.

Optimized for the AR-15 platform, the new subsonic .300BLK Tipped Hunting ammunition is engineered to allow hunters to load 30 rounds in a 30-round magazine and have the cartridges feed properly. This load is ideal for use with a suppressor, making it a favorite among hunters. Muzzle velocity is 1,000 fps, and muzzle energy is 455 ft-lb from a 16-inch barrel. This round is recommended for use in barrels 9 inches or longer. sigsauer.com/store

OTIS TECHNOLOGY

Shooter’s Choice Bullseye Box

The Shooter’s Choice Bullseye Box includes the necessary equipment for cleaning rifles, pistols and shotguns contained in a tackle-box-style case with pull-out drawers for quick visibility of components. Includes solid rods with swivel handles for rifle/shotgun and pistol lengths and includes the brushes, mops and jags for .22/.223cal, .243cal, .270cal, .30cal, 9mm, .40cal, .45cal, 20 gauge and 12 gauge. The box also includes 1-inch and 2.5-inch square patches (100 each). Properly clean, lubricate and protect your firearms with the included MC-7 cleaner (2 ounces), FP-10 Lubricant Elite® (0.5 ounces and 4 ounces), All Weather Firearm Grease (10cc) and Rust Prevent (6 ounces). Additional cleaning gear includes three all-purpose receiver brushes for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, 50 pipe cleaners, 100 cleaning swabs and three microfiber gun towels. Clean your lens with the included lens brush; dust brush also included. Over 300 components are contained in the case for quick access to all gear. otistec.com

OTIS TECHNOLOGY 

8-in-1 Pistol T-Tool 

This small, yet mighty 8-in-1 pistol tool is an essential item for any GLOCK owner. The tool handles a variety of maintenance needs for your pistol all in one tool that easily fits in your pocket, range bag or pistol case. The base handle has four distinct purposes—1/4-inch bit driver, 8-32 threaded insert to accommodate additional components, Memory-Flex cable slot for use as a T-handle and punch hammer for resetting pins. The tool also includes four bits that seat in the magnetized bit driver. The pin punch has additional length to full-push takedown pins through the frame. Users can keep from losing the nut on the front site with the magnetized front site adjustment tool. The tool also comes with one 5/32-inch flat head and one #0 Philips bit. otistec.com

SAVAGE ARMS 

Precision Centerfire Series 

For this completely new product range, Savage has teamed up with the well-known manufacturer of high-quality chassis systems Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) to offer competitive series weapons in various equipment levels. The top model 110 Elite Precision impresses with its core competition chassis with forend rail, MDT vertical grip and AICS (Accuracy International compatible) magazine. The bolt is titanium nitride coated and the 26-inch (standard caliber) or the 30-inch (magnum calibers) stainless steel match barrel is equipped with a muzzle brake. The 110 Elite Precision is available in .223 Rem, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Mag. The mid-level model 110 Precision is equipped with MDT LSS XL aluminum chassis in FDE Cerakote color, muzzle brake, AICS magazine, Picatinny rail and adjustable AccuTrigger™. Available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Mag. The entry-level Axis II Precision is, as the name suggests, based on this successful bolt-action model. An aluminum chassis specially developed for the Axis with M-LOK forend, adjustable buttstock and olive-green plastic inserts, 220inch/56 cm barrel, AICS magazine, muzzle thread and adjustable AccuTrigger characterize this precision rifle in a completely new price sector. Available in .223 Rem, .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win and 30-06.  savagearms.com