Tabla de contenidos para September/October 2015 en Recoil

1 RIFLE MAKE: DPMS MODEL: Gen II Recon MSRP: See page 62 URL: www.dpmsinc.com 2 JACKET MAKE: Beyond Clothing MODEL: Lochi Jacket MSRP: $462 URL: www.beyondclothing.com 3 SHIRT MAKE: Beyond Clothing MODEL: A9 Mission Shirt MSRP: $155 URL: www.beyondclothing.com 4 PANTS MAKE: Beyond Clothing MODEL: Helios Brokk Pant MSRP: $200 URL: www.beyondclothing.com 5 BELT MAKE: Safariland MODEL: ELS with 578 GLS holster MSRP: Varies according to accessories URL: www.safariland.com 6 PISTOL MAG POUCH MAKE: Safariland MODEL: 773 Competition Open Top Magazine Pouch MSRP: $29 URL: www.safariland.com 7 SHOTSHELL CARRIER MAKE: AP Custom MODEL: QL 8C Shotshell Carrier MSRP: $105 URL: www.apcustomusa.com 8 SHOTSHELL CARRIER MAKE: Safariland MODEL: 085 Shotgun Shell Carrier MSRP: $30 URL: www.safariland.com 9 BIPOD MAKE: Versa-Pod MODEL: Model 923 MSRP: $232 URL: www.versapod.com OFF THE COVER 10…

HK KNIVES PLAN D 411: As one would come to expect from a collaboration between Benchmade and Heckler & Koch (HK), the Plan D is an outstanding piece of hardware that’s well built and quite durable. Available in black or sand colors, the comfortable handle is made of Grivory (a polymer) with signature HK texture. Made in the USA with Austrian steel. PROS: A fixed blade means a faster draw and less chance of parts failure. The N680 blade steel, while not a premium steel, is practically rustproof. The low-profile sheath is ambidextrous and has a retention feature that prevents assailants from pulling your knife out. CONS: Its angled profile diminishes the Wharncliffe’s biggest asset, its straight edge. The blade leads with its tip so you’ll likely pierce before you…

Deception is often the first step in an ambush. A flat tire, you say? Here, our good guy cautiously walks around the car and casually hooks his thumb in his pocket, prepping his knife draw. As he gets within range, the bad guy raises a hidden baseball bat and takes a swing. Good guy evades the swing while opening his Wharncliffe folder. As the attacker begins a backhand swing, good guy lunges forward and checks with his left hand behind the elbow to jam the swing. He then thrusts his knife into the attacker’s armpit, xylophones down the attacker’s ribs, and then thrusts to the inner thigh. With blade still in flesh, he turns his hand, palm-up, to sever the quadriceps muscle just above the knee. This mobility-kill drops the…

The He-Man Nationals, in the words of its creators Denise and JJ Johnson, is a three-gun match for the big guns. Run over natural terrain in the spectacular setting of the NRA’s Whittington Center, competitors are expected to engage targets from muzzle contact distance out to 620 yards, through trees, over ponds, across rocks, and from the tops of ladders. And no, we’re not kidding about the last one. There’s a lot of movement involved, and we made the mistake of bringing only one sling, which necessitated the sacrifice of range bag zipper pulls to make loops for HK hooks. Improvise, adapt, overcome. The range itself is a 33,000-acre, high-alpine gem. Annual membership dues are 50 bucks, which makes for one hell of a bargain. Accommodation is available on site,…

Belts are the cheap cotton socks of the tactical world. Most of us grew up wearing bottom-rung stuff for so long we got used to those 12-pack athlete’s-foot generators and scoffed at shelling out for the good merino wool versions. The same psychology affects the way we buy belts. We bought the handgun, we need a holster for it, but a belt? We have a few of those already! And so it goes. It’s so easy to give in to human nature and continue using the same comfortable belt we’ve had since high school instead of paying for a good gun belt. Belts are a critical piece of first-line gear. Whether forming the basis of a concealed-carry setup or supplementing a combat fighting load, the last thing anyone wants securing…

WARNING! The exercises and content expressed in this column are for illustrative purposes only. Consult your physician before trying any physical activity or nutritional plan. RECOIL and its contributors are not responsible for any harm or injuries sustained while attempting these techniques. Never confuse effort with results” has long been a personal and professional motto of mine. In today’s world of participation trophies and the obligatory “nice try,” there seems to be an emphasis on rewarding process over product. EFFORT VERSUS RESULTS During my years as a Reconnaissance Marine I can’t tell you the number of times I had team leaders rattle off all the hard work they and their team had put in — only to explain that they failed to accomplish their assigned mission. They learned quickly (and…

Every man and woman in the military finds their niche, either through happenstance, incredible talent, or sheer determination. This month we’re featuring some patch choices that pay homage to the military occupational specialty (MOS) and tactical roles filled by those service people whose professions could be fodder for a more hardcore episode of Dirty Jobs. See if your specific duty is represented on one of these patches. Although the role of space shuttle gunner hasn’t come to fruition yet, you helicopter door gunners are getting your props. Ground pounders on the front lines, forcing their way into unfriendly territory, are getting their work recognized with a couple different choices. For EOD personnel living the real-life Hurt Locker, your likeness is seen here too. Special operation forces, as well as fans…

WWW.511TACTICAL.COM 01 APEX APEX PANTS It’s called the Apex because that’s the highest point of something. When it comes to flexible and functional performance, you won’t surpass the speed and versatility the Apex offers. Made with 5.11’s proprietary Flex-Tac® mechanical stretch canvas, these pants feature a CCW-ready comfort waistband, internal flex cuff pocket, two hidden handcuff key pockets, zippered thigh pockets, internal magazine storage, and deep reinforced main pockets. Add to that a Teflon® finish for stain and soil resistance, a fully gusseted crotch, and articulated knees, they’re ideal for anything — from a day at the range to SERE situations. MODEL: Apex Pants COLORWAY: Battle Brown, Black, Dark Navy, Khaki, TDU Green MSRP: $84.99 02 CIRRUS CIRRUS PANTS 5.11 prides itself on creating the Cirrus Pants, designed specifically with…

In this issue, we get serious. While it’s always fun to look at the latest and sexiest gear, the most potent weapon we wield is information, and sometimes it pays to knuckle down and present topics that at first glance might seem dry and academic. While most of us would rather gargle razor blades than study an insurance policy, we believe in giving you the tools to cover your ass if you’re forced to use the hardware we all own and enjoy. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of blades, bullets, and babes to counterbalance the grown-up stuff, but we’re duty-bound to bring you content you can’t get anywhere else. Walking down the aisles of my local bookstore the other day, I was impressed by not only the quantity of firearms magazines,…

WARNING! The concepts shown here are for illustrative purposes only. Seek professional training or instruction before attempting any techniques discussed or shown in this story. Using a knife in self-defense is simple: All you need to do is cut and/or puncture your attacker in ways that make him stop trying to kill or maim you. Sure, any cut or hole might persuade him to stop attacking, but real stopping power is based on creating profound physiological effects that make him physically incapable of continuing. And with that pleasant thought in mind, it makes sense that the more effectively your knife cuts and pierces, the better your chances are of seeing the next sunrise. As painfully obvious as this may seem, arguments over the “best” fighting knife design continue to rage…

When a suspicious person with a hidden hand approaches our good guy, he challenges him verbally with an outstretched hand while he casually preps his knife draw. When the hidden hand is revealed to be clutching a crowbar, good guy draws and opens his knife. Undeterred, the attacker swings an overhead strike at the good guy’s favorite head. He’s rewarded with a roof block and ideally some severed flexor tendons in his wrist. Good guy then wraps and controls the weapon arm and pressure cuts through the attacker’s bicep, the nerves that control his felonious arm, and his brachial artery. To finish the job, good guy thrusts into the attacker’s leg and “comma cuts” through the quadriceps muscle for the mobility-kill money shot.…

It’s great to see large numbers of Americans obtaining their concealed handgun licenses. I love it and am happy to see more and more folks taking their personal safety as their own responsibility. As a result, we’ve seen a higher demand for concealed carry tactics classes — this year alone, it represents over onethird of our training schedule at Trident Concepts. That’s hugely important and here’s why: the increasing number of responsible gun owners who take up concealed carry will be noticed by would-be criminals as well as terrorists, which may not be something at the top of everyone’s mind. Let’s look at the big picture regarding terrorist attacks on our home soil. First, our military, made up of the very best we have to offer, is taking the fight…

Belt buckles have evolved from conventional framed prong and plate buckles into impressive load-bearing devices. The most recognizable metal buckles on the tactical market are, from left, the Ares Aegis buckle, the JBC Corp. Raptor buckle, and the AustriAlpin Cobra buckle. Simple slide lock and friction buckles are popular, reliable, and inexpensive. Injectionmolded plastic side-release buckles — such as those from ITW Nexus or National Molding — are also commonly used where weight and cost are a concern. Each has its pros and cons when compared to the old-school prong and frame buckle. The original Cobra buckle was designed as a load-rated device, capable of holding thousands of pounds of weight in industrial, transportation, nautical, aeronautical, and tactical rigging systems. The company even produced a version of the side-release stab…

Sealed Mindset is a 10,000-square-foot training facility near Minneapolis, Minnesota, that includes a heated indoor range, allowing 270 degrees of live fire. The staff conducts firearms training, tactical classes, combatives, contingency planning, leadership, fitness, and event-driven scenario-based courses (think hooded students forced to react when unmasked), concealed carry, offensive/defensive driving, and more. Founder and CEO Larry Yatch’s goal is to “leverage Navy SEAL lessons to help individuals overcome challenges” and to “impact society on as many levels as possible.” To that end, this former Navy Special Warfare operator and his cadre not only teach hundreds of classes onsite, they distribute DVDs, conduct webcam-based virtual instruction, and even teach leadership classes to local school children, focusing on the mental as much as the physical. They promote a holistic approach to training…

When 5.11 Tactical came to us with an idea for the project you’re currently reading, we were slightly dubious. We’ve worked with them before on stuff, and advertising supplements are not exactly a novel concept, but their notion for additional 30-odd pages of RECOIL seemed a bit, well, strange. When we all met to discuss ideas for content, the conversation went something like, “You know we don’t write puff-pieces, right?” Nods of agreement went around the table. “And if we’re going to put our name on this, we’ll need full editorial control.” More approval. “Then I think we can get started.” Make no mistake, 5.11 Tactical is footing the bill for the pages you’re holding right now, but the folks there are sufficiently confident in the quality of their work…

Two U.S. Navy SEALs, Seth Lewis and Brett Marihugh, were found dead in April 2015 at the bottom of the Combat Swimmer Training Facility pool at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia. The sailors reportedly drowned performing an extreme underwater workout — a preventable tragedy that may have arisen from misunderstanding the purpose of tactical fitness. Tactical drills, scenarios, and simulations pressure-test the edge; tactical fitness should prepare and compensate for rapidly approaching and crossing it. Confusing the two can result in catastrophe. But even when not fatal, poor training results in preventable harm. One elite federal law enforcement agency averaged a 31-percent injury rate from the physical training during academy classes: 15 out of every 48 recruits were injured by the training meant to prevent on-the-job injury.…

What’s the best personal-defense knife? I get this question a lot, and although there are a few knives that come close to a one-size-fits-all, near-perfect solution, the real answer is not a “what” but a “how.” Like any other weapon choice, many factors can (and should) affect your decision. The following step-bystep process, however, is a good place to start. 1. Research the Law: Knife laws vary wildly sometimes with state and local jurisdictions contradicting each other. Since you’re the good guy, you need to play by the rules and research the laws before you buy. If you travel frequently, research all the applicable laws for all your stomping grounds and do your best to define your personal carry-everywhere knife. 2. Fixed or Folder: If you’re lucky enough to live…

Mexico. Just the name will conjure divergent thoughts. Cancun. Cartels. Corona. Acapulco. Ammunition. You may be familiar with Aguila Ammunition, especially if you’re a rimfire shooter. In the United States, Aguila’s mostly known for cheap .22 LR and some exotic shotshells, and perhaps some dubious quality control. More on that in a minute. Aguila was first established in the early 1960s under the tutelage of Remington Arms in a previously undeveloped part of Mexico just outside of Cuernavaca. Other companies, such as Nissan, followed suit and soon the region was bustling. Industrias Tecnos (the parent company) eventually expanded Aguila into a massive 120-acre complex that employs more than 830 locals. Aguila makes a lot of rimfire ammunition. Twenty-seven varieties of rimfire to be exact. This isn’t exactly surprising, given its…

Mike Pappas was one of the founders of SilencerCo before moving on to set up Dead Air, so you could say he has provenance in the suppressor industry. The Sandman models you see here are the result of his years of experience, coupled with a healthy dose of R&D and a splash of customer input. The finished products take their place in a growing lineup of suppressors that seem to offer everything the market has demanded, and then some. The longer of the two Sandman (Sandmen?) cans contains eight cone-type baffles and is hearing safe to.300 Winchester Magnum levels of pressure and powder volume. The five-baffle shorty is a bit lighter and handier, but you’ll want to wear hearing protection when using it on the bigger calibers. Both feature 17-4…

No matter your mission — armed professional or defensive-minded citizen — there are common principles that define the preparation for a deadly encounter. Breaking down these principles, we learn how to approach preparedness and where to focus our attention. I refer to these principles as the “pillars that support the gunfighter.” The pyramid chart shown in this story depicts the key layers, each supporting the next. The pyramid cannot stand effectively without each of these in place. This article focuses on concealed carry and the “lines of gear” system of preparedness. When it comes to equipment, it’s a matter of trial and error, constant testing and evaluation periods. If you’re not training with the gear you plan to use, how else will you know its capabilities and points of failure?…

01 ECLIPSE II MAKE: Deltac Concepts MODEL: Eclipse II MSRP: Starting at $75 URL: www.deltacconcepts.com 02 STEALTH MAKE: Q-Series MODEL: Stealth MSRP: Starting at $40 URL: www.qseriesllc.com 03 GLOCK 43 IWB MAKE: Kusiak Leather MODEL: Glock 43 IWB Holster MSRP: Starting at $45 URL: www.kusiakleather.com 04 SECRET SENTRY MAKE: Vigilance Tactical MODEL: Secret Sentry MSRP: Starting at $50 URL: www.vigilancetactical.com 05 BELT CARRY MAKE: Alpha Carry Systems MODEL: Belt Carry Holster MSRP: Starting at $50 URL: www.alphacarrysystems.com 06 IWB G43 MAKE: Tuctite Holsters MODEL: IWB G43 MSRP: Starting at $59 URL: www.tuctite.co 06 SLIM REIGN MAKE: Reign Tactical MODEL: Slim Reign MSRP: Starting at $50 URL: www.reigntactical.com Holsters are to men what handbags and shoes are to women. Unless of course you happen to be one of the women mentioned…