Table of contents for September/October 2014 in Recoil

OFF THE COVER 01 HANDGUN MAKE: Cabot MODEL: Jones 1911 with Bullseye upper MSRP: $7,000 URL: www.cabotgun.com 02 OPTIC MAKE: Aimpoint MODEL: Micro H-1 MSRP: $673 URL: www.aimpoint.com 03 MAGAZINE MAKE: Chip McCormick Custom, LLC MODEL: Shooting Star .45 Classic 8-Round MSRP: $25 URL: www.chipmccormickmags.com 04 KNIFE MAKE: Benchmade Knife Company MODEL: Volli MSRP: $165 URL: www.benchmade.com 05 WATCH MAKE: Luminox MODEL: Valjoux Field Chronograph MSRP: $2,300 URL: www.luminox.com 06 PLATE CARRIER MAKE: FirstSpear, LLC MODEL: Ragnar MSRP: $410 URL: www.frst-spear.com 07 SHIRT MAKE: Arc’teryx LEAF MODEL: Talos LT Halfshell MSRP: $159 URL: leaf.arcteryx.com 08 PANTS MAKE: Arc’teryx LEAF MODEL: Combat Pant MSRP: $350 URL: leaf.arcteryx.com 09 VEHICLE MAKE: Local Motors MODEL: Rally Fighter MSRP: $100,000 URL: www.localmotors.com/ rallyfghter 10 BELT MAKE: Ares Gear MODEL: Aegis MSRP: $100 URL: www.aresgear.com…

America as a nation needs its own gun safe And by that we mean one that belongs to the military and is used to teach the next generation of fghters who will stand on the wall or deploy into far fung parts of the world. Please don’t get me wrong. Those of us lucky enough to do so will have our private collections, and promulgate good gun sense and gun knowledge to our kith and kin, and the NRA does sterling work with its incredible National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. But we’re talking about a true national treasure called the Army Ordnance Museum — specifcally its small-arms collections. Established just a year after the Great War in 1919 and opened to the public fve years later, the U.S. Army…

Over the past decade, operational demands for a rife capable of making hits beyond the range of the standard infantry weapon started popping up like weeds — from just about any major unit in contact with the enemy. The U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd Infantry Division, the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division, and the Navy SEALs, all formalized these demands into programs designed to give a squad designated marksman (SDM) the tools needed to effectively support infantry operations out to 600 meters. Despite approaching the problem from different directions, the results were fairly similar in that all used the M16 as the basic platform, adding an aftermarket barrel, free-foat handguard, and magnifed optic to exploit the capabilities of Mk 262 77-grain OTM ammunition. Unsurprisingly, civilian companies were quick to jump…

When that supersized nuclear furnace disappears beyond the horizon every evening, the masses either go to sleep or try their best to navigate through the darkness with the help of modern technology But there are those who use the cover of night to launch vicious attacks or further their proscribed illegal activities, creating the unfortunate, yet painfully obvious need for the rest of us to have the right tools and skills to defend ourselves. As Churchill said, “There are few things more exciting than being shot at without result.” However, when those doing the shooting can see you, but you can’t see them — well, things go from excitement to frightening in short order. I say this from a position of authority, having found myself in full-on sphincter lockup more…

Ever wonder what retired elite warriors do after years of busting through doors, taking down bad guys, and protecting the Free World? Do they make that natural transition into law enforcement? Perhaps they prefer a quiet civilian life, kicking up their heels at a seaside residence? For the men at Mission X, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Comprised of an international team of former special operation forces (SOF), the company provides a wide array of hard-core services — from facilitating extreme adventure vacations through the Amazon to hosting realistic war-games scenarios for corporate leadership development. Mission X also runs the Annual Warrior Competition in Amman, Jordan, where the world’s most elite teams of police and military personnel build esprit de corps by competing against each other. While adventures…

This issue’s thrilling editorial arrives from EBF Idaho, where your humble scribe is participating in one of the funnest shooting events ever to spring from the mind of man, namely the MGM Ironman three-gun match. Over the course of a week, a few hundred people send about a half-million projectiles downrange, shooting around barricades, under cars, from tunnels, in golf carts, and while dangling from a 200-yard zip line. There are at least a thousand “evil,” semi-auto frearms corralled into a small area, some of which will be adeptly handled by children who will also shoot the match and embarrass a good few adults. You might think that this kind of story would be interesting enough to ensure a huge amount of mainstream media coverage, even if it’s of the…

We’ve all gotten used to the idea that vehicles come from a corporate oligarchy of a few big multinational manufacturers, are designed by a team of engineers, and are built in a centralized sprawling factory where workers scurry like ants, ftting parts on a constantly moving production line. After all, Henry Ford introduced the system in 1913, and since then, not a whole lot has changed. Local Motors stands that paradigm on its head. All aspects of its vehicle designs are crowd-sourced by 20,000 or so enthusiasts, each of whom has the opportunity to throw in their two cents. Rather than picking up a vehicle from a dealership, the proud new owner is invited to build it themselves, assisted by Local Motors staff. And their “microfactories” could easily ft inside…

If you’ve picked up a gun magazine in the past decade or so, you’re probably accustomed to reading breathless accounts of the latest 1911 from whichever advertiser happens to have bought a spread that month. An unfortunate hack tasked with churning out a couple thousand words will use phrases like “acceptable combat accuracy,” “recoil was brisk, but manageable,” and “...so long as I did my part.” In case you ever wondered, submitting those magic words in an article to RECOIL is cause for an instant shit-canning and well-deserved derision. So instead of looking at ho-hum models and telling you they’re the best thing since exploding underpants, we’re going to cast a jaundiced eye at three distinctly different .45-caliber 1911s at widely separated price points and fnd out what you get…

The whirr and buzz of manufacturing machines provide a stark contrast to an otherwise quiet and misty Georgia morning. The drab surroundings lend a sleepy comfort to the area, a rural hamlet of scattered industry and small farms adjacent to historic Savannah. What the exterior weather lacks in thunderous precipitation is more than made up for by the pounding of a hammer forge on the Daniel Defense manufacturing foor, one of two such machines within the company’s Pooler plant. These beasts are capable of pummeling out 70 tons of pressure to hammer-forged barrels at a rate of 4,000 strikes per four-minute cycle. While this indoor thunder continually permeates the plant, the man who captured frearms lightning in a bottle strides somewhere in the middle of it all. But don’t say…

A tactical pen might not be as effective as a frearm or as intimidating as a knife, but it can certainly be the most ninja of your everyday carry (EDC) options. If you’ve read the story in the preceding pages, you know a weaponized writing instrument can do damage to a bad guy yet still be carried in most settings without anyone batting an eyelash. But not all models are created equal. Here are some attributes to consider when shopping for a tactical pen: » Grip: The pen has to feel natural in hand. If it’s uncomfortable when you’re handwriting, imagine how it’ll feel when striking a mugger. » Clip: A strong pocket clip that won’t bend (let alone snap off) is vital to secure carry and quick draws when…

The humble air rife has long been eclipsed by its powder-burning brethren, but this wasn’t always the case. If you wanted a repeater back when loose black powder was the only propellant available, an airgun was the ticket. Merriweather Lewis purchased a Girandoni air rife for the Corps of Discovery and used it to impress the Native American tribes they encountered en route across the continent. The ability to fre up to 22 shots without reloading wasn’t lost on his audience and ensured a peaceful passage through their territory. In countries where frearm ownership is heavily curtailed by government regulations, the air rife occupies a niche that in the United States is taken by the .22 LR — slaying pests, plinking in the backyard, and introducing new shooters to the…

1 Tactical barbecue ninjas, take note: There’s fnally a chest rig that’ll match your high-speed, low-drag grilling skills. This 100-percent cotton, MOLLEcompatible apron comes with two large pouches and three smaller ones for quick deployment of salt, pepper, sauces, or utensils. Now you can scream, “Going hot!” at the next family barbecue with authority. MAKE: Think Geek Inc. MODEL: Tactical BBQ Apron MSRP: $30 URL: www.thinkgeek.com 2 Be prepared for anything while honoring those who gave all. The Operation Hawkeye FAST ROPE Band is made of paracord that can be unwound for all manner of impromptu uses, from securing your gear to fashioning a tourniquet. All net proceeds of the sale of this bracelet go to Operation Hawkeye, a program that honors fallen special-operation forces and supports their families. MAKE:…

FLIP THE PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH KNIFE. Redundancy — while it’s seen as unnecessary by some, it’s made a priority by those concerned with personal protection. From tactical pens to concealed-carry pistols, a reliable backup tool or two can mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, we’re interrogating a lineup of boot knives. This type of weapon usually comes as a short, doubleedged fxed blade that’s best for thrusting and carried in a sheath, which is either clipped to or tied around one’s high-tops. Keep in mind, they’re not quick to deploy. You’ll have to either bend over, crouch down, or raise your ankle, then pull up your pant leg before drawing the blade. Also, boot knives come with certain legal responsibilities. Always check state, county, and…

OK, let’s clear the air frst. I have issues with the AR/M-16/M-4. Don’t get me wrong, I love its ergonomics and its Erector Set simplicity — my son built his frst AR in his bedroom from parts in one evening at the ripe old age of 14. You just can’t do that with an ACR or G-36. Call me old fashioned, but it’s a caliber thing. How can I take a weapon seriously when it shoots a glorifed varmint round that in many states you aren’t even allowed to use on whitetails? As an army reservist in the United Kingdom, I cut my teeth on the Brit version of the Free World’s right arm, the 7.62mm L1A1. So, I’m biased. Anything under .30 is not a “battle rife” to me,…

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written and photographed prior to Tim Dillon being named CEO of Noveske Rifeworks in early summer. To learn what Tim has planned for the company and for the most up-to-date information, please go to RECOILweb.com. When John Noveske died tragically in an auto accident in January 2013, the news was shocking. The frearms community mourned. It also had people wondering what would become of his eponymous company, known for pushing the limits of quality, high-end carbines. Well, big things have happened at Noveske Rifeworks in the past 18 months or so, and it’s putting out more AR-15s than ever, while still meeting (or even exceeding) the high standards John set when he founded the business in 2001. His widow Lorina Noveske retains ownership of the…

If you’re a cubicle jockey, you’ve probably been there. In between mindlessly fling paperwork and fantasizing about the receptionist, you’ve undoubtedly pondered an infnite number of “what if” scenarios to test your inner warrior’s mental mettle. What if an earthquake leveled the building? What if you were stuck behind enemy lines with top-secret intel that would turn the tide of battle? Or what if you awoke chained up in a dank concrete basement during your Mexico vacation, fghting off roaches, dehydration, and your kidnapper’s beatings? Are any of these scenarios likely? Statistically, not at all. But, it never hurts to be prepared. And if you have a SERE kit, you’re that much better off. SERE is a military acronym that stands for “survival, evasion, resistance, and escape.” This type of…