Table of contents for November/December 2012 in Recoil

OFF CAMERA 01RIFLE BRAND: Desert Tactical Arms MODEL: Stealth Recon Scout with 22-inch, .308 Win Conversion Kit MSRP: $4,126 URL: www.deserttacticalarms.com 02 SCOPE BRAND: Leupold MODEL: Mark 4 ER/T MSRP: $2,999 URL: www.leupold.com 03 BIPOD ADAPTER BRAND: LaRue Tactical MODEL: Harris Bipod Adapter LT130 MSRP: $85 URL: www.laruetactical.com 04 BIPOD BRAND: Harris Engineering MODEL: HBRMS Bipod 6 to 9 inches with Notches (Swivels) MSRP: $130 URL: www.harrisbipods.com 05 WATCH BRAND: Suunto MODEL: Core MSRP: $299 URL: www.suunto.com 06 GLOVES BRAND: Wiley X MODEL: Paladin Glove MSRP: $150 URL: www.wileyx.com 07 KNIFE BRAND: Gerber MODEL: Combat Fixed Blade MSRP: $154 URL: www.gerbergear.com 08 PISTOL BRAND: Sig Sauer MODEL: P226 Elite Dark MSRP: $1,218 URL: www.sigsauer.com 09 PISTOL MAGAZINE BRAND: MEC-GAR MODEL: P226 High-Cap Flush Fit MSRP: $37 URL: www.mec-gar.com 10 MAGAZINE…

1 MultiTasker is always at the forefront of creating pioneering tools with shooters in mind. Its latest innovation is the Tube — it looks like a pen, but hidden inside is a four-prong AR-15 front-sight adjustment tool, which is replaceable with any standard hex driver socket bits. Unscrew the other end to reveal a bolt carbon scraper. The scraper can be replaced with other optional tools, including Otis brand cleaning devices. Plus, the Tube’s pocket clip doubles as a surprisingly strong screwdriver. BRAND: MultiTasker MODEL: Tube MSRP: $45 URL: www.multitaskertools.com 2 Made to carry small items, the E9 Mini Flat Pouch features a zippered pocket and can be attached to slings, belts, or even Echo Niner’s own line of military-grade camera straps. It is covered almost entirely in loop material,…

Persistence and innovation. No two words better describe Christini’s corporate philosophy than these. More than five years ago, the Pennsylvania-based company developed a revolutionary non-hydraulic all-wheel-drive system that simultaneously created and dominated a new segment of the off-road market. A consistent race effort and a dedicated customer base both helped improve performance and raise awareness of Christini technology, but when the economy tanked, the brand failed to explode in popularity like everyone predicted. Still, Christini kept pushing. The AWD system began finding a successful niche in military applications, though Christini’s dream of selling an all-wheel-drive stock motorcycle through one of the major OEMs struggled to gain traction but remained alive. As a result, Christini did what any like-minded entrepreneurial brand would do: It built its own bike. The all-new Christini…

The AR-15 is one of the most customizable rifles on the market. With multiple alternatives available for virtually every one of its components, its modification possibilities are nearly endless. However you decide to change up your AR-15, knowing how to actually affect these changes will free you up to personalize it to your heart’s content. Although work on firearms is commonly recommended or required to be done by trained armorers or gunsmiths, these mods on an AR-15 lower receiver are easy do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, as long as you are careful and pay attention to the details. If you are in doubt at any point during this DIY, stop and consult a professional. That being said, if you are up for the challenge and capable of working with your hands, read…

In a world where ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain, the weight of one’s equipment can oftentimes be as important as their functionality. Weight adds up quickly; keeping gear functional but light can keep one in the fight longer. In recent years, this line of thought has been applied to everything from armor plates and boots to nylon kits and even ammunition. The modern rifle is no exception. Brimming with Picatinny rail on all four sides, tactical free-float handguards found on many of today’s rifles allow the user convenient attachment points for mission-specific equipment, such as lights, lasers, optics, grips, and more. As the use of fully railed handguards became popular, a pattern started to become noticeable. Many shooters only used certain portions of the rail, leaving most of…

Editor’s Note: This article provides information on buying a used 1911 and flags potential safety concerns. We recommend having a gunsmith inspect the pistol thoroughly before any purchase, and especially before chambering a live round or firing it. The 1911 pistol has been around for more than 100 years and is still one of the most popular pistols in the shooting world. Since its introduction, many variants of this handgun have come to market. Post-World War I experience brought a few updates to the platform that ultimately refined the pistol to what you see today: the model 1911A1. Most on the market today fall into the 1911A1 category. Because there are actually several variations with different designations, manufacturers and enthusiasts alike generally call the basic design “1911” when not calling…

Salient is also working on packages for the Mossberg pump-action shotgun. This prototype 590A1 features an 18.5-inch ported barrel with elongated forcing cone, to reduce felt recoil and provide tighter, more consistent shot patterns. Salient gave it the full battery of modifications, including a lightened and coated bolt, tuned and polished internals, trigger job, extended magazine tube, and stippling. We marveled at the smooth, buttery action and enjoyed the clean 41⁄2-pound trigger. Salient plans to offer various configurations with a railed forend, sling attachments, side saddle, optional butt stock selections and barrels with a vent rib, plain fiber-optic bead, or ghost ring sights. Pricing is expected to start at $1,299. Also pictured is a Safariland ELS belt system with quickdetachable Man Mountain Engineering shell caddies. MAKE: MOSSBERG MODEL: 590A1 (CUSTOMIZED)…

Even sitting on the ground, planes like the XB-71 Valkyrie, B-57 Hustler, and F-102 Delta Dart look like they’re screaming past you at Mach 2. In that power of still beauty, these iconic aircraft pull you back to their time, when the skies were filled with a variety of military vehicles we’re likely to never see again. That’s the power of the National Museum of the United States Air Force. A GATHERING OF EAGLES The museum opened in its first incarnation way back in 1923 and has since evolved into a massive collection of aircraft, parts, and related memorabilia that represents the history of the world’s greatest military air power — from its infancy through the early 21st century. If you love airplanes, military aircraft, and aviation history, this is…

Cat Shit One is a mesmerizingly realistic, computergenerated imagery ode to tactical drama. The animated series takes on a life of its own with a modern timeline and precise attention to detail. Divorce your rational mind from the concept that fluffy bunnies shouldn’t pack heat. Packy and Botasky are a classic cinematic duo, liberating hostages from a desert compound where terrorist camels hide out. Ballistic and procedural details are spot on. Every aspect of firing dynamics is depicted accurately, from the shape and size of the muzzle flash to shell ejection and recoil. TITLE: CAT SHIT ONE—THE ANIMATED SERIES RATED: NOT RATED [CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT, INCLUDING GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND STRONG LANGUAGE. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED.] FEATURE LENGTH: 22 MINUTES BONUS FEATURES LENGTH: 75 MINUTES MSRP: DVD $20 / BLU-RAY $30…

There’s a chance his face won’t seem familiar to you. His name might not ring a bell. But, the defensive tactics, fighting strategies, and weapon techniques that he’s learned, mastered, and taught over the past four decades are some of the most sought-after in law-enforcement and military circles around the world. His name is Richard Bustillo, and he’s taught everyone from the U.S. Navy SEALs to the German counterterrorism unit GSG 9. His instruction and consultation are so in demand globally that he’s trained cops and soldiers in countries such as South Africa and as far north as the Norwegian island of Svalbard in the Arctic Circle — not to mention numerous nations in between. Bustillo is among the rare breed of warriors who are masters at all ranges of…

Glock pistols are easily among the top two or three most customizable pistols in the gun world. The aftermarket selection and availability for Glock platform pistol components are truly off the charts. A part as simple as a magazine release all the way to the Glock’s slide and even frame are now offered in unique, nonfactory variations. When you can change just about every thing that makes your Glock a Glock, we have to ask: Could a Glock be over-accessorized? What happens when you take a Glock 19 and deck it out with aftermarket accessories and throw a healthy dose of custom work on top of all of it? Does performance begin to drop from factory standards or are the improvements worth the investment? Griffon Industries, a company that specializes…

Our founding fathers carefully crafted the Constitution to set forth the form of government and fundamental laws for the United States – and added the Bill of Rights to clarify that certain basic civil rights and freedoms for all Americans must always be guaranteed. Of them all, it is the Second Amendment that serves as the brick-and-mortar foundation to help secure the rest of our constitutional rights. Within that one powerful sentence, it is clearly evident that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Whether you’re a first-time gun owner, a seasoned shooter, or don’t even own a firearm, it is important that every American fully understands the Second Amendment, and why it is so critical to our nation and way of life.…

Having lived through the chaos of the 1992 Los Angeles riots and been taught to respect and appreciate guns since grade school, Victor Carrillo knows firsthand the importance of having a firearm and a vehicle that can help him GTFO of any situation as quickly and safely as possible. And now that he works in downtown L.A. just blocks from Skid Row, he’s always prepared for any threat lurking in the concrete jungles of Southern California. But, he’s also a lifelong off-road enthusiast. He has pounded out thousands of backcountry miles on dirt bikes, four-wheelers, buggies, and trucks all over North America. So, when he was building his ultimate bug-out vehicle, Carrillo knew it had to not only be agile on the blacktop and capable of securely housing his firearms,…

Desert Tactical Arms (DTA) is a relative newcomer to the tactical precision-rifle market, but in the nearly five years since Nick Young founded the company, the company has developed one of the most versatile rifle platforms on the market. He founded DTA with the intent of bringing to market a uniquely modular rifle capable of meeting the needs of shooters across the tactical spectrum, from civilians to law enforcement snipers and military personnel. Even to this day, there is stiff competition in that arena from legendary companies, such as Accuracy International, Barrett, and Remington. However, Utah-based DTA decided to approach the platform in a different way that would set its rifle apart from the others. The result of that effort was the debut of the Stealth Recon Scout (SRS). The…

What is a Caracal? It’s a desert cat. What is a Caracal F? It’s a 9mm 18-round semi-automatic polymer-framed pistol that is striker-fired. Why do you care? Simple — because it works, and we beat the hell out of one just to make sure it did. Wilhelm Bubits invented the Caracal F. Does that name ring a distant bell for you? It did for us. He is a former Austrian customs inspector, who also taught at the Austrian Customs Academy. However, it was his working with Glock and his eventual design of the Steyr M series pistols that makes him stand out to us. There is certainly more than a hint of resemblance between the Caracal F and the Steyr, with the Caracal F looking like the slightly hotter younger…

Assembled and debated under many guises and many names, the “Go Bag” (GB) represents different things to different people, but generally it’s a prestaged, man-portable collection of gear to keep an individual safe and healthy for at least three days. Why three days? In addition to what FEMA recommends, it’s the average time a human can live without water. Considering survival exercises can have infinite possibilities and permutations, one has to draw outer limits to size, function, and duration. To that end, the editors at RECOIL laid out the challenge of creating a GB with a roughly $300 budget (excluding tax and shipping) from easily sourced vendors to build a viable GB. Given those limitations, the first question has to be, what’s not in the bag? Let’s start with a…

Ever since the days of the blunderbuss in the 17th century, soldiers, lawmen, hunters, sportsmen, and citizens have enjoyed the multifaceted shotgun. It’s a venerable, versatile, and fearsome weapon system. Many refer to it as the “thinking man’s” weapon. With birdshot, it can bring down game and clay birds. With buck and slugs, it can take out larger game or defend against the most dangerous two-legged kind. Salient Arms International wants to take this weapon and push the envelope, so it’s teaming up with Mossberg to not only give the manufacturer’s line of 930 shotguns a facelift, but also revamp it from the inside out. Salient burst onto the scene a couple of years ago and, after regrouping earlier this year, is expanding aggressively with more product lines and a…