Table of contents for November/December 2013 in Recoil

01 PISTOL MAKE: SIG SAUER MODEL: P556 SB15 MSRP: $1,340 URL: www.sigsauer.com 02 MAGAZINE MAKE: Magpul MODEL: PMAG 40 AR/M4 GEN M3 MSRP: $20 URL: store.magpul.com 03 OPTIC MAKE: SIG SAUER MODEL: STS-081 MSRP: $199 URL: www.sigsauer.com 04 MUZZLE DEVICE MAKE: Sintercore MODEL: Auxetik Muzzle Brake MSRP: $399 URL: www.sintercore.com 05 BELT MAKE: Ares Gear MODEL: Aegis MSRP: $80 URL: www.aresgear.com 06 MAGAZINE POUCH MAKE: Safariland MODEL: 774 MSRP: $32 URL: www.safariland.com 07 MAGAZINE MAKE: Troy Industries MODEL: BattleMag MSRP: $15 URL: www.troyind.com 08 WATCH MAKE: RESCO Instruments MODEL: Patriot Gen 2 MSRP: $1,650 URL: www.rescoinstruments.com OFF CAMERA 09 SHIRT MAKE: Under Armour MODEL: Coldblack Tactical SOAS Polo MSRP: $65 URL: www.underarmour.com 10 PANTS MAKE: Arc’teryx MODEL: Drac MSRP: $289 URL: www.arcteryx.com 11 KNIFE MAKE: Benchmade MODEL: Tumult MSRP: $285…

Springfield Armory. What image do these two words conjure in your mind? For some, it’s synonymous with the polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns imported from Croatia. Others might equate the name with 1911-style pistols. Many might recall the line of accurate semi-automatic rifles that sprang from the M14. That’s the modern Springfield Armory, Inc., a commercial enterprise based in Illinois and founded in 1974. The original Springfield Armory was established in Springfield, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War to store armaments. In 1794, President Washington paved the way for smallarms manufacturing in addition to the storage of weapons. An arsenal had become an armory, and a legend was born. There’s now a museum on the site where the armory once produced firearms, and we took a visit one sunny Friday to step back…

The idea behind a ghillie suit is to provide a foundation to which you attach natural vegetation. Doing so will break up your outline, which is easily recognizable to the human eye. But you don’t want to look like a bush — if you look into a field that has two trees, your eyes are drawn to the two trees. You want to look like the rest of the area, i.e. the field. For example, when training for my second Iraq deployment, I took too long to get to my final firing position, and I was worried about running out of time. So I just crawled out from behind the bush that was concealing me, hastily set up my rifle, and fired. My objective was to get shots on target…

Faced with the wide-open spaces of Afghanistan and enemies who, in the words of one British officer, “ignore 5.56mm, respect 7.62mm, and fear .50 BMG,” U.S. forces put out many calls for a widely available designated marksman rifle (DMR) to be rushed into service. Since falling out of favor just six years after its introduction, the M14 had been languishing in cosmolinesoaked limbo for many decades and so was pressed into action. Developed from the M1 Garand of WWII fame, the old girl was starting to show her age. Compared to modern .30-caliber rifles, the M14 was an ergonomic train wreck, with limited options for mounting day optics and zero compatibility with clip-on night optical devices. As a short-term solution then, the M14 would do in a pinch, but at…

One fun aspect of a morale patch can be the hidden meaning behind its design, a meaning you can decipher only if you’re in the know. Some feature an acronym that stands for a military concept that’s unclear to most civilians. Others are in-jokes that garner chuckles from those who understand it and head-scratching from everyone else. So, this issue’s collection of patches all feature memes of some sort, from the cool to the hilarious. 1 MAKE: Bravo Company USA PATCH: BFH (Barrel, Forged, Hammer) Logo Patch COLORWAY: black, green, tan (shown) MSRP: $5 URL: www.bravocompanyusa.com 2 MAKE: Spike’s Tactical PATCH: 5.56 Caliber COLORWAY: N/A MSRP: $5 URL: www.spikestactical.com 3 MAKE: Mil-Spec Monkey PATCH: Flying Trunk Monkey COLORWAY: ACU, desert (shown), MultiCam, SWAT MSRP: $6 URL: www.milspecmonkey.com 4 MAKE: Strike…

It’s easy to be distracted by all the shiny toys. The high lumens. The fancy optics. The colorful lasers shimmering in the night. The lure of kitting up with cutting-edge accessories is ever-present and understandable. In theory, these tools should enhance your shooting — and may even make you look sexier (individual results may vary). But Wes Doss cautions not to get caught up in the overemphasis on gear in this era of “tacticool.” As a U.S. Army veteran, a former law enforcement officer, and the founder and head firearms instructor at Khyber Interactive Associates, he has experienced firsthand how equipment can fail at the most unexpected times. “What’s going to save you in a gunfight is you and your skills, not some expensive piece of equipment,” Doss says. “Therefore,…

I’m filing this letter from Europe, at the end of a trip where I visited one of the most extensive firearms collections in the world (look for a full report in an upcoming issue of RECOIL). There I was reminded of why I left for the USA, and just how restrictive and oppressive gun laws on this side of the pond can be — it’s a sobering realization when you consider that it’s taken less than a century to go from zero restrictions at all, to a total ban on handgun ownership, all in the name of “sensible gun-control laws.” The only thing preventing the same situation occurring Stateside is a motivated and informed citizenry. That would be you, dear reader. RECOIL continues to go from strength to strength and,…

Elsewhere in this issue, Eric Lund discusses selecting the right tool for the job (see page 90.) Let’s say, after careful reflection, you decide that the right tool for your application is a carbine with a barrel shorter than 16 inches. Unfortunately, that choice places you squarely under the jurisdiction of the National Firearms Act, with its peculiar set of arbitrary and capricious rules, the transgression of which might earn you a hefty fine or a stretch in a federal PMITA prison. RECOIL covered the steps needed to legally acquire a short-barreled rifle (SBR) in Issue 5. Currently, ATF (or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) takes more than nine months to shuffle through the necessary paperwork — and yes, you read that right. Nine months. We don’t…

Love them or loathe them, race guns represent the top of the pile when it comes to accuracy, speed, and power. At the 2012 Midway USA Bianchi Cup, I had the opportunity to shoot an Open Division 1911 pistol. My competitive shooting career has encompassed almost every form of shooting, and I’ve shot a lot of firearms — but none have impressed me more than that 9mm Open gun. I had admired and handled these types of guns before, but actually shooting a gun that’s designed specifically to be both fast and accurate with little regard to the eventual cost is memorable to say the least. Competitive venues typically have various divisions for participants to enter, depending on the type of weapon they’re using and how extensively it has been…

After RECOIL was invited to attend an advanced tactical training course taught by Wes Doss as part of the 2013 Lights, Sights & Lasers Tour, LWRC International kindly gave us the keys to its latest rifle, the M6-IC-SPR. Despite a short test drive, we found that the carbine is like a BMW — sleek, dependable, and sophisticatedly designed. And expensive, too, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The IC-SPR is a great-looking rifle, and, yes, performs remarkably. Running on a short-stroke gas-piston system, it was reliable from the first shot to the last. LWRC’s Enhanced Fire Control Group is a single-stage trigger; it was smooth with a positive reset. The rifle spit out several hundred rounds of 5.56mm from Freedom Munitions during our short-term testing and didn’t have a…

Having a gun is one thing. Having it at the ready is another thing. And having it at the ready, but completely hidden is a whole new ballgame entirely. Being covertly armed allows you to defend yourself and your loved ones immediately, gives you a tactical advantage should SHTF, and lets you go about your daily life without attracting unwanted attention. In Issue 8 of RECOIL, former Delta operator Mike Pannone wrote an enlightening story about calibers and carry methods for concealed-carry weapons (CCW). For this feature, we tackle another aspect of CCW: discreet carry bags, particularly sling bags for pistols and larger packs for long-guns. So, why a backpack instead of CCWing on your body? “Primarily, you want to create as low a signature as possible when it comes…

1 Lube is not a particularly exciting topic, at least when you’re talking about firearms. But if you like the idea of a non-toxic, odorless solvent that will keep your guns running cleaner and longer, check out FIREClean. Its Advanced Gun Oil makes quick work of carbon fouling and maintains lubricity to very high temperatures. FIREClean conditions metal and is very efficient, working well with light, thin coats of oil. BRAND: FIREClean MODEL: FIREClean Advanced Gun Oil MSRP: $30 for two-pack URL: shop.cleanergun.com 2 The SlatGrill is portable and stores flat, but assembles into a lightweight, durable, and convenient grill that lets you use your preferred fuel source, including wood, charcoal, and butane. There are three models — from the 2.8-pound Scout that’s made of stainless steel to the Summit,…

We prefer an everyday carry (EDC) knife that is slim and built to last, with a quick opening. But there is some logic in carrying a slightly brawnier knife if it can do more than just slice or penetrate. This month, we shine the spotlight on rescue knives, from those that help extract an accident victim trapped in a car to the kinds that can give you an edge in a survival situation. There’s sure to be an EDC blade you’ll find worthy, whether you’re a first responder, a service member, or just a prepared citizen. 1 MAKE: Buck Knives MODEL: Redpoint Rescue OAL: 7.13 inches BLADE LENGTH: 2.75 inches BLADE MATERIAL: 420HC WEIGHT: 2.9 ounces MSRP: $55 URL: www.buckknives.com 2 MAKE: Kershaw Knives MODEL: Funxion EMT OAL: 7.25 inches…

SAFETY DISCLAIMER The tactics shown are for illustrative purposes only. Seek professional training or instruction before attempting any techniques discussed or shown in this story. A jammed gun can be a pants-soiling experience if you’re a competitive shooter in a match, but can be a matter of life and death if you’re a good guy put in harm’s way — whether on the battlefield or at home defending against an intruder. So knowing how to clear a malfunction is as essential as knowing how to restart your engine when your car stalls. Fortunately, malfunction drills are not rocket science. There are several straightforward steps to deal with a jacked-up pistol and get it back into action. Read on for the lowdown on simple methods to clear the most common malfunctions…

One of the most effective upgrades you can make to your AR-15 is an aftermarket trigger. Many folks are keen on building ARs that are built to Mil-spec standards. But a true Mil-spec trigger is generally rated to come in at a pull weight of anywhere between 5.5 and 9.5 pounds, with no particular requirements for feel, crispness, or other qualitative characteristics. Besides pleasing the bean counters with reduced unit costs, the stock triggers, with their heavy-pull weights, are also a crutch to reduce negligent discharges. Now, many AR manufacturers offer premium models with improved triggers, and certain end users, such as designated marksmen, avail themselves of precision triggers. One of the beauties of the AR platform is its LEGO-like modularity. The fire control system in an AR is relatively…

All the world’s a stage for Mark Christopher Lawrence. Not just in the existential, Shakespearean sense. The phrase is actually true in his case, as this talented veteran actor has used his natural gifts to become a versatile entertainer in every medium he’s tackled. Mark’s unique abilities and incredible range have allowed him to share a movie set with the likes of Will Smith, hold court on a top-rated hit television show on NBC, take lead-actor honors in venerable playhouse hits like A Raisin In The Sun, and pack houses with his stand-up routines at The Comedy Store and The House of Blues. He’s even organized comedy shows at a gun range — yep, you read that right, a gun range. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Mark is also…

We have to start by saying that the XM2XI Integrated XRAIL System is more fun than a barrel of monkeys… all of whom, by the way, you could totally shoot without needing to reload if you had an XRAIL system. Not that you would ever do such a thing. Remember, according to the movies, some day they’ll rise up against us. Let’s be honest, it’s a blast to make things go boom, and shotguns are exceptionally good at that task. But one of the least fun things about running a shotgun is loading it, especially in three-gun competitions with high round counts in which you’re expected to run around engaging a bunch of targets as quickly and accurately as you can — and there are usually more targets than you…