PMCI - July 2016

DEC 2015

CONTENTS 4 TRAINING: CASUALTY SIMULATIONS FOR THOROUGH TRAINING: As real as it gets with TacMed Solutions UK! 8 BOOK REVIEW: “What went wrong in Afphanistan ”.

10 TRAINING:HANDS ACROSS ACROSS THE OCEAN: Covert Surveillance Training & Operations in the USA 15 TRAINING: EDITORS COMMENT: Nearly two years in Editor Bill has his say.

16 GEAR ON TEST: The PMCI Team make their recommendations on the latest gear to hit the market.

22 TACTICAL INNOVATION: Helikon-Tex are really pushing the boundaries ever forward in relation to tactical gear and clothing; we get together with them to check out their very latest kit!

28 MEET THE MANUFACTURER: We check out Pentagon, “Tactical Sportswear” for the end user!

32 SPECIALIST! Trampas introduces a specialist holster maker in the form of Survivor Creek.

37 TECH AND TOOLS: Need to keep medical supplies cooled in the harshest conditions? Look no further than YETI! 40 SPECIAL REPORT: Nige gets inside Accuracy International and finds out what makes them so successful.

44 ARMOURY ANSWERS: Chalkster, gives some tips on how to get on target each and every time!

48 SKILLS AND DRILLS: Another new contributor joins PMCI this time to talk about holster solutions.

52 SPECIAL REPORT: INTELLIGENCE; HOW YOU GET IT AND HOW YOU USE IT! Getting to grips with Intelligence Gathering with Gecko Professional Services.

57 MEDIA REVIEW: This time our two tame contractors discuss how they prepare their primary waepon when they get “in-country” 58 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: Looking for work? Just check here.

Editor (UK): Bill Thomas Editor (International): Dan Eastes Graphic Design: Baz Thakur Publisher: Nigel Streeter PMCI Magazine is a digital-only publication, published bi-monthly and available FREE OF CHARGE via the PMCI app on the following platforms: Apple iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Windows Phone.

For more information visit our publishing partner: www.PocketMags.com PMCI can also be read online at: www.issuu.com Calibre Publishing Limited Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.pmcimagazine.com ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2014

Letter, idea or question?

Got something to say? A question for our

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Copyright © Calibre Publishing 2014. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication.

experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a

Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by individuals with first hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - people like Col. Gerry Schumacher (USSF Ret.), author Simon Chambers and ex-TL Dan E, all of whom have an intimate understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by PMCs.

to us on Twitter or Facebook.

PMCI will provide a platform to review and discuss the things to matter to all of us, such personal equipment, training, employment and lifestylestyle management - and these are also our core fundamentals. We hope you enjoy this Edition of PMCI and if you have any feedback or comments, or would like to contrubute to future issues, please let us know by email to: editor@pmcimagazine.com PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: TacMed. Authors where applicable, Shutterstock.com, Istockphoto.com

line and let us know. Either email the editor (editor@pmcimagazine.com), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk

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TRAINING:

TAC MED

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TRAINING:

TRAINING TAC MED SOLUTIONS UK At PMCI we are always interested in looking at unique training courses and programmes that will let serving personnel or those leaving the military hone certain areas of their skill-set. Recently I was lucky enough to speak to Rhys from Tac Med Solutions UK to find out what they’re all about.

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f you’ll pardon the pun, medical skills are very close to our heart at PMCI and we’re always honoured to meet like-minded people who offer training in relation to what can be vital yet perishable skills. In our minds correct and thorough first aid/medical training should be high on the list of “must have skills”, but unless that training is carried out in a simulated “stress situation” even the best taught can lose the plot when the “SHTF”.

It’s all very well being able to deal with a casualty situation in a quiet environment, and many will lose it a bit even then. What happens though when the pyro blows, and quick, well purposed action must be taken when the rounds start going down? It takes professionalism and nerve to quickly assess a situation in a hostile environment and deal with it effectively, and that only comes through thorough and regular training with expert practitioners.

At a recent event I was lucky enough to be introduced to Rhys from Tac Med Solutions UK (TMS UK), and having seen the level at which he and his colleagues had provided gruesomely realistic Casualty Simulations (cas-sim) as an integral part of the 36 hour event I was keen to find out more about how TMS UK had come about and what type of training they offered.

Rhys very kindly agreed to answer my questions and this is what he had to tell me.

PMCI: So Rhys, in your own words please tell me what led you guys to set up Tac Med Solutions UK? Having been a medic for over 18 years and having a keen interest in the tactical side of medicine I noticed a gap in the market for tactical medical training within the UK. There are a few companies in the UK offering the odd tactical medical course, but it tends to be only a small add on. We, TMS UK, want to push the boundaries to prepare guys and girls for highthreat theatres of operations, changing environments and push the stress levels through hyper-realistic simulation and training.

PMCI: When and where did you start running your courses?

We started the company whilst working on a diplomatic contract in Iraq, We had a demand for the training, operators wanted to up-skill themselves with life-saving training and skills that could help support themselves, team members and clients. We had some great training areas, an abundance of equipment left over from the Americans and plenty of time on our hands to offer training. We are currently running courses from an excellent training venue in Chesterfield, where we can really push the training to its limits.

PMCI: Who do you see as your target customer for your courses?

Obviously the majority of our customers are from those wanting

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to break into the security industry and current operators. However we offer training to Police, Fire, Ambulance, Press or any agency that could be operating in a hostile environment. It’s important to remember a tactical environment could be a terrorist incident in your local supermarket or even your nearest airport with mass casualties, it doesn’t have to be a battleground such as Helmand Province.

PMCI: Do you train just military and police personnel or civilians too?

Absolutely, if required we can bring students skill set from basic first aider in the office to emergency medical technician.

PMCI: What exactly do you specialise in?

TMS UK specialise in tactical medical consultation and training with extensive knowledge working in hostile and remote locations.

and cas-sim blood! (Editors note: I’ve seen the guys in action and there is a LOT of cas-sim blood involved!)

PMCI: Do you offer training in specialised equipment?

Yes, we have some awesome bleed simulators to train wound packing and tourniquets. We have also had some very realistic injuries built to our own specifications to push the simulation and training to the max.

PMCI: Do you have all the equipment available as part of your courses?

Yes we provide all the consumables, and equipment required. All the students require to bring is a pair of boots and some clothes you don’t mind getting covered in blood, and a will to learn. If you want to bring your own tac gear you are more than welcome.

Well currently we rent a disused mill in Chesterfield as and when we require it. The site is approximately 10 acres with a massive building to get lost in, outside area with barricades, obstacles, vehicles and a class/training room. The building has multiple levels, can be darkened in certain rooms. The plus side is we pretty much have free reign so we can use plenty of pyro, smoke

Absolutely, I spent the last 8 years working within the industry as a CP/Medic. I think it’s important to keep-up personal skills and also to keep current with tactics and team skills. This all helps to make the scenarios and course content more relevant to our students.

PMCI: Without going into specifics who do you, and your successful trainees, work with?

TRAINING:

PMCI: Do you offer your own services in your market area?

PMCI: I know that you work with excellent training facilities; can you tell me more about those and what you do there?

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TAC MED

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We have had guys working within Embassies, oil and gas companies in the Middle East, CP/ RST in UK and Europe and a few guys within government agencies.

PMCI: Where do you see TacMed Solutions evolving in the future?

We would love to have our own state of the art training venue within the UK. Have the ability to simulate training in multiple environments etc. However the venues we are currently using are excellent and fit our needs perfectly until we can expand‌ PMCI: If someone reading this article likes the sound of what you offer, what should be their next step?

You are more than welcome to drop us an email using support@tacmedsolutions.co.uk, check out the website www. tacmedsolutions.co.uk, or chat with us via Facebook /Twitter.

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BOOK REVIEW What went wrong in Afghanistan?

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WHAT WENT WRONG IN AFGHANISTAN? Since 20 December 2001, the date which marked the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to assist the Afghan Government , hundreds of thousands of coalition soldiers from around 50 different states have physically been and served in Afghanistan.

security analyst. Gurcan obtained his PhD in May 2016, with a dissertation on changes in the Turkish military over the last decade. He has been published extensively in Turkish and foreign academic journals

Roughly 20 rotation periods have been experienced; billions of US dollars have been spent; and almost 3,500 coalition soldiers and 7,400 Afghani security personnel have fallen for Afghanistan.

In this badly-managed success story, the true determiner of both tactical outcomes on the ground and strategic results was always the tribal and rural parts of Muslim-populated Afghanistan. Although there has emerged a vast literature on counterinsurgency theories and tactics, we still lack reliable information about the motivations and aspirations of the residents of Tribalized Rural Muslim Environments (TRMEs) that make up most of Afghanistan.

The aim of this book is to describe some on-the-ground problems of counterinsurgency (COIN) efforts in TRMEs, specifically in rural Afghanistan, and then to propose how these efforts might be improved. Along the way, it will be necessary to challenge many current assumptions about the conduct of counterinsurgency in Afghanistan. Most generally, the book will show how counterinsurgency succeeds or fails at the local level (at the level of tactical decisions by small-unit leaders) and that these decisions cannot be successful without understanding the culture and perspective of those who live in TRMEs. Engaging issues of culture, the author is a Muslim who spent his childhood in a TRME, a remote village in Turkey, and he offers his observations on the basis of 15 years’ worth of field experience as a Turkish Special Forces officer serving in rural Iraq, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Cultures in these areas are not the same, but there are sufficient similarities to suggest some overall characteristics of TRMEs and some general problems of COIN efforts in these environments. In summary, this book not only challenges some of the fundamentals of traditional counterinsurgency wisdom and emphasizes the importance of the tactical level, a rarely-studied field from the COIN perspective, but also blends the first hand field experiences of the author with deep analyses. In this sense, it is not solely an autobiography, but something much more.

Metin Gurcan is a columnist for Al-Monitor’s Turkey Pulse. Now resigned from the military, he is an Istanbul-based independent

Author: Metin Gurcan Publisher: Helion and Company Language: English ISBN-10: 1911096001 ISBN-13: 978-1911096009 Paperback: 132 pages

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TRAINING: CROPS GO INTERNATIONAL

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CROPS GO INTERNATIONAL Regular readers of PMCI will know that we have a very close relationship with the guys at Covert Surveillance Training & Operations (CROPS) so we were very excited when they told us that they were to carry out their first course in the USA with the Recon Surveillance Group, forming a very “special relationship” indeed. PMCI got together with both parties and this is what we found out!

PMCI: RECON Surveillance Group, introduce yourselves and tell us all about you?

RSG: We are the first US based company to hold the OFQUAL I.Q Level 4 in Covert Rural Surveillance Operations, but to best understand who we are, you must understand how we DEFINE Ourselves: RECON: To perform a preliminary Survey to Gain Information and Insight SURVEILLANCE: ART of discreetly watching someone or something to obtain evidence.

GROUP: A number of specialized people who are working together with a UNIFIED goal.

RECON was formed by a group of experienced surveillance operators who recognized that there was a need for a company that SPECIALIZED in SURVEILLANCE first and foremost.

RECON was started by a small group of experienced operators with a goal to provide clients with consistently reliable results.

Instead of being a one stop shop for any investigative services, we focused on being surveillance experts. We recognized that to provide consistent results, we had to stay up to date on the best training and technology. Obtaining a higher level training was written into the first line of the business plan from the beginning. Our recent accreditation from CROPS will be just the 1st of many more training opportunities.

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The key to RECON’s success has been driven by our TEAM. We have proven over time that the most successful results derive from an experienced TEAM approach when conducting Recon and in implementing Organic and Technical Surveillance.

PMCI: What type of surveillance work do you conduct and where?

RSG: RECON currently performs commercial surveillance for attorneys, insurance companies, private companies and critical infrastructure in the US New England Region. Our focus is on high profile and challenging surveillance. We are also expanding into private government contracting and conducting more technical surveillance.

arrange a date to set this project in stone, and finally this was achieved in late June.

As soon as we met the guy’s, we knew this was gonna be a great course; we had done all the recce’s on the training areas and set the syllabus to suit the guy’s operational requirements. Next was to deliver the training, this can sometimes be unnerving when dealing with groups that are already conducting live surveillance. We always aim to raise the skill set and for our students to achieve their end goal, which in this case was to become the first company based in the US to be awarded our OFQUAL approved Level 4 qualification in Covert Rural Surveillance Operations.

Our TEAM was formed with a group of divers’ investigators who were raised and worked in the Rural New England area.

Our team’s exposure to hunting and working in the woods naturally built up our confidence and patience to conduct covert surveillance in rural areas; we just progressed from hunting animals to hunting for the evidence our clients expect. We have now taken that experience to a new level with the training we received from CROPS Surveillance Ltd www.crops.uk.com PMCI: Moving on to more recent things, we see that our friends at CROPS have been across the pond, can you tell us more about this and how and it came about that you chose CROPS to run your training package?

RSG: RECON recognized that the UK’s Accredited Training model provided for a much more realistic method for determining which companies / investigators are capable of performing professional surveillance. The regulated Licensing of Investigators in the US does not account for an individual investigators specific experience in surveillance. Most licensing requirements in the US rely on past LE Experience and a knowledge of the law. Any professional investigator recognizes that prior LE experience alone does not mean that an individual is capable of performing commercial surveillance. I was a prior LE officer and I can easily say that my success today was driven by rural upbringing combined with my 11+ years of conducting private surveillance in some of the most challenging terrain.

I researched the UK model of accredited training for many years in my hopes of eventually being able to obtain some training.

In all the research I performed, CROPS was clearly the company which would provide RECON with the best training experience.

CROPS experience was current and most in line with the progression of advanced surveillance in todays market.

PMCI: After learning about the involvement of CROPS, we through it only right to bring them into the feature. So guy’s, how was it over in the states with the RECON boys?

TRAINING: CROPS GO INTERNATIONAL

RECON was told from the very start that this was not a paper pass course like others, that they will be up early and digging

CROPS: Awesome! It’s always great meeting others that are professionally driven and like-minded. We had been in communications for just over a year with RECON trying to

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TRAINING: CROPS GO INTERNATIONAL

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into the night, reduced sleep patterns to see how they would reacted and if they could still function! In other words get their client a product.

PMCI: What areas of training did you undertake?

RSG: The training was focused on enhancing our skills in Covert Rural Surveillance and Technical Surveillance. In today’s world of surveillance, an operator has to be capable of working in any environment as well as being able to utilize advanced technical equipment. The most successful surveillance typically includes both a well-trained organic team whose efforts are enhanced by skillfully placed technical equipment.

CROPS: That’s right, we always come across situations where the target location or the threat level of the subject makes it difficult or sometimes imposable to deploy an organic team, here we must still achieve our clients aims, so the only way is to deploy a technical, this in the form of a camera system. We demonstrated and practiced this with RSG in the importance of having both, organic and technical assets on the ground.

As the RECON team learned on day one, the ‘importance of blending in to their environment’, after running the practical stork lane where the team was spilt in half, one half observing from an OP, while the other half moved covertly towards the target. This real was an eye opener to the RECON guys, with their vast experience in hunting, they were amazed at how someone can be spotted so easily if they don’t stick to the rules (70/30) of camouflage and concealment.

PMCI: How did you find the guys from CROPS?

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RSG: The guys from CROPS went above and beyond in all aspects off their training service. Their military background combined with the way they deliver their training made for the most productive training program I have even been involved with. And to make it even better, the CROPS guys are just great guys that any operator would trust to protect their 6.

CROPS: That’s cool to hear, it’s always great receiving good feedback.

PMCI: You mentioned a technical phase, without giving to much away, can you tell us more about this?

RSG: The technical phase of the training integrated by CROPS further enhanced our skills and capabilities. Just like with our organic experience, CROPS technical training has enabled us to

CROPS: Believe us when we say, this was one of the best covert camera placements we have seen on a course. The attention to rectifying the ground sight, siting of the camera and subsurface deployment of the power pack and recorder was second to none. Even now we must say well done!! The satisfying and must confirming part of the camera placement was, that the land owner had continued to use the placement site continually for three days oblivious to the equipment in place.

our relationship with CROPS and we will be seeking to grow our Covert Surveillance Operations. RECON also has a vision to develop and build the same level of Accredited Training in the US that the CROPS has achieved in the UK. We will be working with CROPS to build a more professional and accredited training program to the US.

PMCI: So did RECON SG achieve the level 4 accreditation in covert rural surveillance operations?

RSG: YES we did, and it was more beneficial and rewarding than we could even anticipated. The training truly elevated our team’s knowledge and capability and we are more confident and eager to take on the most challenging surveillance cases.

CROPS: Well done to all the RECON team, you worked hard and kept going…….even through that lighting storm where the OP filled quicker with water, they you could bale it out!! Happy Days, spot the aperture???

PMCI: So what does the future hold for RECON SG?

CROPS: All we can say at this point is. “Watch this space for something ‘REAL BIG’ taking place in the very near future”; big wheels are turning!

For more information about the training CROPS offer please visit www.crops.uk.com, and for more on RSG you can check out http://reconsg.com.

TRAINING: CROPS GO INTERNATIONAL

confidently conduct more technical work on a daily basis and has opened us up to being able to perform technical work to a wider range of clients. Having the technical capability will significantly improve our results.

RSG: RECON is now truly ready to take on any surveillance mission our clients require. We plan to continue to develop

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TRAINING

EDITORS COMMENT

Nearly two years in Editor Bill has his say

As PMCI approaches its second anniversary I thought it was time to pen some words from the Editorial side of things; as Paul is away “on task” this time it’s given me the perfect opportunity to do so.

We agreed that I would take on the technical side of preparing things whilst he would feed in news stories and information about people he was dealing with. This has proved to be a great partnership for us both so far, and I can only thank he and Nige for the opportunity. We all agree wholeheartedly on the ethos and direction of the magazine, and it’s my job to ensure that everything comes together in a timely manner for each issue, especially in such troubled time globally.

Since that moment I’ve drawn together a great team of contributors; my great friend and “Bearded Brother” Trampas looks after business in the USA courtesy of his Swanson Media Group presence, now ably assisted by Craig. Paul Hutchinson

from ARG has always been on hand to keep us fully up to date with developments in the industry. The Chalkster has joined us recently and brings to the table a superb knowledge of everything firearms related, and from this issue onwards Andy has will be joining us for regular “Skills and Drills” articles. Sadly Robbie and Rich are leaving us as they too suffer from stringent operational tempos and commitments like Dan, but to not include them in this group would be remiss as they’ve helped make PMCI what it has become.

I would like to publicly thank each and every contributor for what they have helped create, and all that advertise with us for their support thus far. I’d also like to thank all of the great individuals, groups and companies that have worked with us thus far to create some truly interesting and unique content.

Of course the success of PMCI is ultimately down to you, our readers, to each and every one of you that tune in to each new issue; Issue 1 of PMCI has now been read over 57,000 times, and every subsequent issue is heading in the same direction!

From that tiny seed something mighty is growing, and I sincerely hope that you’ll stay with us to see this happen as there’s much more to come; for instance in the next Issue I’ve just arranged to work with the guys in the UK to really get to grips with the Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger (SIRT) Training Pistol so expect something pretty special on that (if you really can’t wait then you can check them out by visiting www.nextleveltraining.com)!

Wherever you may be people, train hard, stay vigilant and keep safe.

TRAINING EDITORS COMMEN

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n September 2014 I got a call from Nige, the publisher of PMCI, asking if I might help out as Dan, the original Editor was out in Afghanistan and had gone “off comms”.

The deadline for the October issue was fast approaching and the issue was only half complete! I eagerly accepted the challenge and the seed of a new co-operation was planted.

Many of you who interact with us via the internet have expressed an interest as to how PMCI came about in the first place, and I have to tell you that it was the brainchild initially of Dan and Nige. That said I don’t believe that many people actually understand the physical process of bringing a magazine together regularly, and such is the mark of the man that when Dan and I met when he returned from the Afghan trip he admitted to me that he was struggling with the demands of still being “on the job” and creating PMCI at the same time.

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GEAR ON TEST

HAZARD 4 SWITCHBACK SLING PACK

A few years ago I came across some great gear from US brand Hazard 4; the name is inspired by a standard threat-classification index: ‘1’ low, ‘2 & 3’ moderate, and ‘4’ deadly, and their gear is designed to be the last line of defence for its owner when things turn bad . Their parent company, Civilian Lab, has great experience in manufacturing top quality outdoor adventure, extreme sport, and travel gear in innovative configurations and forms, and as with many manufacturers these days the tactical community has lapped up their output.

Our mates at Military1st in the UK recently provided a Hazard4 pack for our evaluation. The Switchback Sling Pack is the largest of their sling-style packs and features lots of storage capacity and a generous size, yet is still nimble enough to be swiftly rotated from the back to the chest. The pack can be rapidly taken on or off when needed which allows for quick access to frequently used gear while carrying heavier loads on the back the rest of the time. Slim shaped for fast manoeuvring, the pack can be instantly taken off the back and stored in vehicles and lockers. A wide, generously padded shoulder strap comes with breathable air mesh, large lockable quick release buckle, multiple MOLLE straps and 1” sternum strap; the shoulder strap is optimised for right hand users but works ambidextrously.

It also has a 3D thermo moulded back panel allows for easy air-circulation and comfortable wear even when bag is fully loaded. Behind the padded back is a separate hydration bladder compartment/laptop pocket, lined with extra soft material, with two-way zip closure, and a loop and Velcro secured passage for a hydration tube. The back compartment can be used for storing bladders with up to 3 litres capacity. The Switchback includes one large padded main compartment with two-way zip closure, soft loop like fuzz material for attaching dividers, patches or holsters, two zipped mesh pockets, two sleeve pockets, nylon loops, a small top-zipper to pass though long objects like antennas, barrels or cables and vent grille for easy ventilation and drying. Numerous compression straps allow the bag to be adapted to the size of carried kit and prevent it from shifting inside the bag, which may cause unnecessary noise, discomfort and disturbance to the balance.

If you fancy something a little more conventional though, then Hazard 4 have a wide range of styles and sizes to choose from, and models like the Second Front Rotatable; being the backpack version of the versatile Switchback sling pack, this unique and professional day pack offers generous size, and again is versatile enough to be rotated from the back to the chest, or rapidly taken on or off when needed. Once again the pack allows for quick access to frequently used gear while carrying heavier loads on the back the rest of the time.

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Now I am going to put in a word of warning here that Hazard 4 gear is not the cheapest in the world, but it works very well indeed, is massively innovative, and makes use of the best design and components married up with superb construction methods so you really are getting your money’s worth!

For more information on the Switchback Sling Pack and a host of other gear in Hazard4s extensive range please visit www.military1st.co.uk

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ONE TIGRIS MOLLE DUMP POUCH

GEAR ON TEST

Whilst many people use social media to pointlessly vent their spleen at the world I do believe that we live in a time when the dissemination of information via the internet is faster than ever before, and that those individuals who use it creatively can really reach a global audience of potential consumers.

So it was that I discovered ONE TIGRIS; about six months ago I saw a post placed on Facebook from the then little known company here asking for product testers amongst the UK tactical and bushcraft communities so immediately I responded and started digging into the background of who they were and where they had come from.

ONE TIGRIS was founded back in May of 2014 and very shortly after in August of the same year they found premises in a culture/industry park in Shenzhen, China.

During the latter part of 2014 marketing to the USA commenced. With their first original product launch, a cracking little EDC pouch, in November 2014 things really began moving for them, and early in 2015 they began similar campaigns in Canada, Japan, and Germany. Swiftly building up a loyal customer base around the world, and along the way gaining a heap of testimonials from happy users, 2016 saw them turn their attention fully to the UK. I was lucky to be chosen as one of their very first testers in the UK, and after this had been formalised and I’d spoken more to the ever enthusiastic Han from ONE TIGRIS the first product duly arrived in the post.

What I received was a small yet vital piece of equipment that every tactical shooter needs, a dump pouch; these are the perfect solution for retaining spent magazines and absolutely essential when trying for fast reloads. Other than this they are also spot-on for carrying shotgun rounds, as an “evidence bag”, or for carrying NVGs. The pouch itself is very, very well made using extremely durable 500D Nylon which has been treated with a water resistant coating; the stitching both inside and out is first rate, with no loose yearn ends evident. The main pouch itself features two MOLLE strips on the rear so that it can be easily fitted to a plate carrier, vest or chest rig, as well as being worn on different widths of tactical belts or a battlebelt.

In addition to the main compartment which is controlled by an elasticated bungee and a stiffener, there is a “Buddy Pocket” on the front with Velcro closure and ring where you could store keys, valuables, a radio or mobile phone, or even an extra magazine at a push! On one side there is a mesh pouch, while MOLLE webbing on the other side is there for attaching additional pouches or accessories should you wish to.

The overall dimensions of the pouch are 8”/20.32cm x 6”/15.24cm x 3”/7.62cm (H/W/D) which means you can get five STANAG mags in at a push, although this reduces to four when you’re talking about P-MAGS and the like. It’s a sound, well-designed, and well-manufactured product In the words of ONE TIGRIS themselves “Perfection is

hard to achieve but we strive our best to attain it. That’s why One Tigris is a great companion for your next adventure.

During One Tigris’ short history we have been lucky that many people have felt our intention. Usually we get together, read the messages, reviews, and blog posts from great buyers from all over the world and rejoice in what One Tigris items bring to them.”

The online approach has certainly been a novel one, but an effective one; having now spoken more with ONE TIGRIS I find their passion for both the outdoors and for great kit is unassailable. I for one look forward to seeing more gear from them coming available soon in the UK! At the time of going to press with this review you can access the comprehensive range of ONE TIGRIS tactical and outdoor products by visiting www.onetigris.com where all prices are currently in US$.

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GEAR ON TEST

VISUAL RAPID ROUND COUNT LOWER RECEIVER

Recently, the PMCI Magazine crew has been working under a secret squirrel directive to help test and evaluate a new lower receiver being produced by Black Creek Precision (BCP) called the Visual Rapid Round Count or VRRC. Already known for their precise machining on 1911 and AR platform firearms, BCP has taken the next step in AR functionality through the use of the VRRC receiver concept.

What makes this lower different than the hundreds of generic mil-spec, hog face and skull designs is in the fact it is made for real warriors who understand the importance of every round sent down range and being accountable for them.

The VRRC’s design is mainly unique in its “dog bone” cut outs on either side of the magazine well with graduated lines marking 10 & 5 rounds. Combined with clear or smoke magazines such as Lancer products, the shooter can see exactly how many rounds are left once the round count reaches under 10. Traditionally with a solid magazine well, using a clear or smoke magazine, the shooter would not be able to see the finial ten rounds as the magazine follower pushed them into the solid wall constructed well. If the shooter is running the lower in a Designated Marksman set up, he or she may only be using 10 round magazines to begin with and having to operate blindly if not using the VRRC lower.

The sample receiver I received for T&E was part of a very well built 5.56 battle rifle Cerakoted in coyote brown along with a staple of Lancer 30 round clear magazines. As the round count reached the critical count of 10 or less, the graduations on the side of the receiver accurately matched up time and time again with the actual amount of rounds remaining in the magazines. Throughout our testing, I found the entire rifle on pace with those twice their cost.

I knew BCP was well known for their rifle builds, but this was the first time I was able to see it for a fact first hand.

One factor I was most impressed with was the upper/ lower fit. Through the use of an integrated tension screw, there was absolutely no “slop” or gap between the two receiver halves.

Aside from the “dog bone” cut out, two other features help separate this receiver above a standard mil-spec version. Coming from a builders stand point, the addition of a threaded rear detent and a screw-in bolt catch pin instead of a roll pin are huge time and stress savers! As anyone who enjoys building their own AR15 platform rifles from stripped parts can tell you, trying to line up your rear detent spring with a stock plate while screwing in the buffer tube is a headache. On top of this annoyance, when it comes time to assemble the bolt catch, the traditional roll pin assembly can lead to scratching your rifle’s finish and sometimes damaging it altogether. Major points earned by the VRRC’s overall design in my book!

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Although the rifle we tested was a preproduction model on loan, it certainly had me excited to see the finished product due out sometime this Spring. For the builders looking to add the VRRC design to their own custom build, the stripped lowers are set to be available at www.VRRClower.com and www.blackcreekprecision.com very soon. If you’re serious about shooting and conscious about round count, the VRRC is definitely the lower you’ll want for your next project.

SNUGPAK IONOSPHERE The Ionosphere by Snugpak is an extremely compact and lightweight two pole, one person tent. The Ionosphere has an extremely low profile and is great for those looking for a stealthy sleeping solution sturdier than a basha, tarp, or bivi bag but not as bulky and heavy as a traditional tent.

The Ionosphere flysheet is a lightweight 210t Polyester RipStop pu with a 5000mm waterproof polyurethane coating, whilst the inner is constructed of 190t Nylon and 50D Polyester No-See-Um-Mesh; all seams are tape sealed.

Both poles are high-quality DAC Featherlite NSL anodized models with easy and quick to use pressfit connectors, made from TH72M aluminium, and there’s also some great alloy stakes included. Both inner and outer feature a

GEAR ON TEST

single, angled door with two way zips. There’s also a small Repair Kit included should you need to make repairs can be made on the move The weight of the basic tent (Fly, Inner Tent & Poles) is a measly 1.2kg/2.64lbs with the total weight (Fly, Inner Tent, Poles, Stakes, Repair Kit & Carry Case) coming in at 1.52kg/3.35lbs. The Ionosphere takes up little space in your pack but offers a luxurious 240cm x 111cm x 96cm sleeping space once erected.

The black inner is pitched first, and can be used on its own in dry, hot weather environments where you still need protection from biting bugs and nasties, and it’s simply a case of pushing the two individually marked poles through corresponding, colour coded pole sleeves and then pegging it out with the alloy stakes. If the fly is needed it has velcro attachment points which are affixed to the poles, and then this too is pegged out as well. Once you’ve practiced a few times you can get the whole thing up in a matter of minutes.

Once up this is exceptionally sturdy, and although I haven’t yet used it in very high winds, given the low profile and amount of pegging/guy points I guessing that

it would stay put once properly set. The angled inner and outer doors make ingress and egress straightforward, and there’s even enough space to drag in your pack with you.

The minus side of the low profile though is that you’re not going to sit up straight once you’re in, but there’s certainly enough length for me to lay out flat, and I’m 6’3!

This is a very impressive small compact tent by anyones standard, and the design allows a free flow of air, negating condensation build up; for this reason only I’d have to say this is a three rather than four season design, but the fly certainly shrugs off even the heaviest of rainstorms as I found out in the Brecon Beacons on a recent trip!

The Snugpak offers excellent value for money given the standard of materials and construction, and is very highly recommended for those looking for a lightweight overnight shelter, and as always the Ionosphere shows Snugpaks adherence to finding the best and neatest solutions that they possibly can!

For more information on the Ionosphere and all the other great kit offered by Snugpak please pay them a visit at www.snugpak.com

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UF PRO DELTA ML JACKET

GEAR ON TEST

Those of you who read our clothing reviews regularly will know that we’re big fans of the brand UF PRO; these guys are at the cutting edge of tactical clothing design and use the very best materials and components available to create beautifully achieved and highly focused garments

Although their recent releases have concentrated on clothing for use in hot weather, coming from Eastern Europe you might say that UF PRO know a thing or two about dealing with the cold as well! Within their everexpanding range they offer a number of jackets designed for winter use, and the Delta ML is a really great example.

Their first Delta ML jacket was designed initially as a pure mid-layer garment to be used as a part of a full winter layering system, but for many it was used as a superbly comfortable, “stand-alone” cold weather jacket. They therefore changed the design focus slightly an based the concept of their latest Delta ML on the original mid layer design, but added specifically functional elements that would also qualify it as an outer layer winter jacket for all outdoor activities in extreme cold weather conditions.

Especially for higher work-out levels, they optimised the thermo-physiological properties of the excellent 110g/m2 G-Loft insulation (non-woven polyester with aluminized polypropylene); warm, light and breathable, even in extremely wet and cold weather, G-LOFT insulation meets the highest standards and combines the benefits of natural down with the ruggedness of a synthetic fibre. Due to the “MEMORY EFFECT” the fibres automatically return to their original and unique form, providing warmth, even after repeated washing and hard use. G-LOFT guarantees optimal thermal insulation and heat regulation, both indoors and outdoors.

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Not content with picking the most up to date insulation UF PRO looked to the very design of the jacket to get the best from it by applying a tighter, ergonomic quilting pattern to all areas where better heat exchange is required.

They also we made the side- and armpit areas out of the 37.5 microfleece from COCONA Inc., which provides quick re-drying properties with excellent thermal insulation.

As the Delta ML can be used on its own or as part of a layered setup the pockets are configured for both uses.

The sleeve pockets and lower front pocket originate from their excellent STRIKER combat shirt design so you can happily wear the jacket as an outer layer and additional chest pockets are there for when you use it as a mid-layer underneath an outer shell. There are also two inner pockets for storing away those little “bits and bobs”. The jacket also benefits from wrist warmers, an adjustable lower hem, and the front zip is backed with a wind resistant flap. Both the face fabric and inner lining are made with 100% polyamide Ripstop which is solid and durable.

As with all garments from UF PRO the Delta ML is a magnificent achievement both in terms of design and quality, and it certainly fulfils its job.

It is light (just 0.70kg in size Large!), comfortable to wear and extremely warm, and not only that, it looks cracking too! The Delta ML jacket is above all a jacket which offers reliable and comfortable thermal insulation in a wide range of outdoor activities.

The Delta ML jacket is available in Olive and Black, and is priced at £132.50 from www.hueys.co.uk; for more information on the entire range of clothing and accessories from UF PRO please visit http:// ufpro.si

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VORTEX MICRO RED-DOT SIGHTS

Vortex offer three “micros” in their comprehensive optics range, The “VIPER” specifically for handguns, the “RAZOR” for pistols and rifle/carbines, and the “VENOM” for pistol/rifle/shotgun.

The “VIPER” red-dot’s super-low mounting height makes it the perfect solution for handguns with cutout slides. The Viper gives shooters the simplicity and speed advantage of a dot sight, while co-witnessing with stock iron sights, and the 6 MOA dot diameter gets you on target fast. Fully multicoated, ultra-clear lens offers a wide, unobstructed field of view. The left-side up/down power and illumination controls are easy to access and manipulate. Recessed 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments are super clean, protected from accidental contact, and always at the ready.

It runs on an easily sourced CR 2032 battery.

The high-end “RAZOR” is a reflex sight built for top-tier performance and incredible versatility. The highly polished

glass is clear and crisp from edge to edge. Exceptional resolution and a wide field of view present a sight picture that is sure to impress. The daylight bright red dot is easy to see and paints targets regardless of lighting conditions or background. Fast and accurate, clear, compact, durable and dependable the Razor is a corking bit of kit ideal for pistol and rifle/carbine with the choice of either a 3 or 6 MOA dot.

And now you can make your rifle/carbine, pistol or shotgun even more lethal with the “VENOM” red-dot sight. A 3 MOA dot promotes rapid target acquisition, while providing a precise point of aim, getting shots down range and on target fast. The durable, machined aluminium housing ensures the unit will stand up to whatever you throw at it. A high-quality, fully multi-coated lens offers a clear, wide field of view. The Vortex top-load system makes changing the CR 1632 battery simplicity itself and alleviates the need to remove the sight when switching the power source. The power and dot intensity controls are conveniently located on the left side of the unit, and flush 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments are super sleek and make sighting in a breeze.

As with all Vortex products the finish and quality of all three sights is absolutely impeccable, and is use they are all easy to set up and instinctive to use. All three sights come supplied with a Picatinny mount, but Vortex offer other mounts for them so that if you use any type of magnified optic you can easily off-set the red-dot for when things get “close-up and personal”.

Whilst many users will no doubt choose to use the “clone” red-dots to save a few pennies, when you buy Vortex you are buying flat-out quality and their superb “no quibble” guarantee means that you are investing your money for a lifetime of service and performance. I for one am really looking forward to having a “VENOM” on my shotgun for longer than just a test period!

For more information on these and the other sights in the Vortex Optics lineup, along with stockist details please visit www.vortexoptics.

GEAR ON TEST

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Three Gun event and what a day it was! New and veteran shooters were all represented and all lined up to take their turns running four separate courses of fire. Pistols, rifles and shotguns were used under the ruleset of Three Gun Nation, and this exciting day showed a great side of competition shooting that both enthusiasts and professionals alike should and will embrace!

One of the things I found particularly interesting was the number of shooters using micro red-dot sights either in addition to, or instead of “irons”, especially when it came to handguns and shotguns. It’s a sighting system that I’ve never really used before so I decided to do a little digging, and that of course meant speaking to my good friends at Vortex.

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MEET THE MAKER: HELIKON

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NEW GEAR FROM HELIKON-TEX In the last issue of PMCI we took a look at the new clothing ranges launched by Helikon-Tex at IWA 2016. To complement the clothing there are also new gear items to fit their Urban, Outdoor, and Range lines; these also offer brand new designs and new materials and as always these pieces of gear are cleverly achieved and meticulously put together!

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elikon-Tex have always had a strong offering when it comes to “nylon gear” and accessories, and the focus of their new lines brings some great new additions. They’ve obviously used their great experience, the culmination of ideas gained from gathering information in the tactical market since 1983 to create items of gear that the user actually needs. When you’ve been around as long as they have the sheer volume of “intel” gained both from using the gear themselves, and listening carefully to the feedback of their end users, must be huge.

They’ve really put this knowledge to great use in relation to the new products, as in their tried and tested style HelikonTex have released just a small number of extremely focused designs which complement the other pieces they already have in their extensive range. I’ll break things down line by line so you can appreciate just how focused these new designs are.

URBAN LINE This is what really started the Helikon-Tex evolution as the Urban Line is their take on both the challenges and routines of a modern world, merging tactical, sporting and EDC elements into one. All the designs in this line are oriented to give you sharp looks and enough space to hold all your daily stuff. Keep in mind that everybody is trying to keep “low profile” these days, and that’s the rule that Helikon-Tex follow with their new Urban Line designs.

URBAN ADMIN POUCH

With a growing amount of electronics to keep in order, and to carry with you daily, it seemed natural to develop pouches that would help to keep all those cables, flash drives and powerbanks in relative order. The Urban Admin Pouch is a MOLLE/ PALS compatible admin pouch with a removable pocket insert that can be carried as a standalone wallet.

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MEET THE MAKER: HELIKON

pmcimagazine.com • External expandable pocket • Internal dummycording loops, Velcro panel and mesh pocket • Removable insert with numerous storage options that can be used as a wallet or standalone organiser • Front Velcro panel for Identification/ Personalization • YKK® zipper closures • DUTY BELT/PALS/MOLLE compatible

BACKBLAST MAT

Helikon-Tex have created this light shooting mat with precision shooters in mind. It rolls down into a neat package that can be carried by handle or shoulder strap.

When unrolled it has a reinforced, non-slip knee and elbow area, and a Velcro panel for additional ammo pouches, ballistic tables and tools. Additional features include loops for tent stakes and built-in storage pockets for them, plus a detachable bipod lanyard for added stability. The Backblast Mat features:

POSSUM WAIST PACK

The Bandicoot Waist pack is something we’ve been using since Helikon-Tex released it last year, and it’s a very useful item that really is the epitomy of EDC gear. It’s a medium sized waist pack and offers a number of unique features in a smooth, low-profile package. You can choose buckle placement, stow away the bag’s belt strap, remove or replace the internal Velcro insert to customise it for different applications. The four pocket design is large enough to fit personal items along with basic medical supplies or a wind jacket.

The new Possum Waist Pack is the Bandicoot’s little brother, and is still as versatile, but more streamlined and compact.

The internal organiser is non-removable which cuts the weight down whilst retaining all the features, which are: • Left hand / right hand configuration • Detachable/stowable belt strap • PALS/MOLLE compatible side wings • Front velcro panel for Identification/ Personalisation • YKK® zipper closures • Duraflex® buckles • Internal organiser for documents/small items • Inner mesh pocket, secure body side pocket

RANGE LINE

The guys at Helikon-Tex are shooting sports enthusiasts, and the two new items in the Range Line reflect this very well indeed; it’s no wonder that they wanted to create a line with great gear for the range. No matter if you’re a three gun competitor, a long distance precision shooter or just a guy that shoots for skill and fun Helikon-Tex have something new for you. From gun bags and range pants to sniper mats you can certainly see that the Range line is one of their favourites as it combines match-grade design with actual passion.

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• Double Cordura® 500D fabric with internal closed cell foam padding • Double padding and non-slip reinforcements for elbows and knees • Cord loops for staking in strong winds/uneven terrain • Velcro panel and 3 Velcro-on pouches – non-slip pad for monopods, ammunition wallet and DOPE clear window • Stake pouches doubling as sheaths for carrying strap and bipod lanyard • “Y” style bipod lanyard allowing to “load it” under tension, 3 points of attachment • Detachable carrying strap • Carrying handle

BRASS ROLL

This is a simple, belt/MOLLE attachable, open top-pouch for everything that you don’t have a pocket for, a real “super” dump pouch. Spare ammo, spent cases, empty magazines, or gloves, you name it, it swallows them all. The top of the Brass Roll is stiffened so it stays open when you want it to, but when you don’t need it you can close it with a Velcro tab or fold and roll into a small package. The Brass Roll features: • Stiffened upper edge • Long pull handle • Folds down, fastens with Velcro panel • Narrow mesh bottom • DUTY BELT/PALS/MOLLE compatible

OUTBACK LINE

The Outback Line is where you’ll find the Helikon-Tex technical clothing and accessories concepts. You’ll find within this line both solid classics and new “light and fast” style designs; everything is included to fit your activity profile and specific needs. Accessories developed for e Outback Line focus on travel, gear packing and outdoor expeditions.

PAKCELL SET

The super lightweight, packable “Pakcells” are designed to help you organise and store your garments and gear while packing and travelling. You can stuff them into your rucsac having all items neatly packed and compressed. Having them in three sizes allows you to simply match Pakcells to your rucsac capacity without adding bulk or weight. These are very neat and useful items and all three sizes feature:

NAVTEL POUCH

• YKK® zipper closure • Inner velcro panel, elastic webbing and dummy-cording loop • Front MOLLE/PALS webbing • DUTY BELT/PALS/MOLLE compatible • YKK® zipper closures • Padded, soft material lined main pocket, with elastic webbing retainer • External pocket with dummycording loop, velcro closure • Front Velcro panel for Identification/ Personalization • DUTY BELT/PALS/MOLLE/SUSPENDER compatible

GENERAL PURPOSE CARGO POUCH

This is a classic MOLLE/PALS/Belt compatible cargo pouch. Inside it has a Velcro panel for inserts and elastic webbing to hold larger items, plus a lanyard loop for dummy-cording. It works very well as a backpack side pouch or a belt mounted cargo. Features include: Inner velcro panel, elastic webbing and dummy-cording loop • Front MOLLE/PALS webbing • DUTY BELT/PALS/MOLLE compatible.

• YKK® zipper closures • Lighweight micro-ripstop construction • Slim, rubberized carry handles • Velcro tab for ID and segregation • Compression with webbing and Duraflex® buckles They say that good things come in small packages and the focused new accessory items certainly hold true to this. Once again Helikon-Tex have looked to where they have gaps in their excellent offering and filled them accordingly.

With the new Urban, Outdoor, and Range line concept I believe that Helikon-Tex are really onto something and I’m 100% certain that what we see from them in the future will be commendable. Rest assured, as soon as PMCI know what’s next in the pipeline you’ll know soon after!

The new designs are loading up onto the Helikon-Tex website as they become available, so for more information on the individual pieces and to find stockist details where you are please do visit https://helikon-tex.com

MEET THE MAKER: HELIKON

The Navtel pouch is medium sized, padded electronics pouch designed to be worn vertically on a backpack carrying strap or MOLLE/ PALS platform, to keep accessible smartphones, GPS devices, notebook, and similar items. A simples feature set includes:

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MISSION PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

38.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 52 x 24 x 32 cm

Internal hydration sleeve Ventex system back panel Adjustable hip pad/harness Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Multiple compression straps Hydration/coms outlet Side carry handle 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock SRP £84.95

RANGER PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

>GET THE

TACTICAL ADVANTAGE

36.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 46 x 33 x 26 cm

Multiple compression straps 4 point, Ventex system back panel Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Side carry handle Internal hydration sleeve Internal retaining straps/bungees Felt lined exterior utility pouches Hydration/coms outlet 2 x Velcro ID panels 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock SRP £84.95

IN ALL AVAILABLE GREEN & BLACK E V LI O , E T O Y O V-CAM, C

LOGUE S / FREE CATA FOR STOCKIST 0327 74 4 TEL 0123

RECON EXTRA PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

20 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 45 x 22 x 20 cm

Internal hydration sleeve Internal retaining straps/bungees Felt lined exterior utility pouches Hydration/coms outlet Multiple compression straps 4 point, Ventex system back panel Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles Grab carry handle MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings 2 x Velcro ID panels, 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock

SRP £54.95

TACTICAL

MIDI PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

22 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 43 x 23 x 26 cm

Internal hydration sleeve Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles 2 x side stow pouches Internal Nylon utility sleeves Mesh back Compression straps MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock

SRP £45.00

MINI MODULAR PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

19.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 42 x 23 x 34 cm

Mesh helmet hammock located on front with compression straps for adjustment Internal hydration sleeve 2 x External side pouches Hydration/coms outlet Padded shoulder straps and sternum strap with QR buckles Multiple compression straps MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panel 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock

SRP £45.00

ONE DAY MODULAR PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

13.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 19 x 20 x 43 cm

Hydration/coms outlet Multiple compression straps Internal mesh pocket to accommodate hydration bladder Shoulder straps with QR buckles.

MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panels.

2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock

SRP £26.50

SHOULDER PACK Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

10 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 31 x 20 x 16 cm

Retaining straps/bungees Exterior utility pouches.

Mesh back panel.

Shoulder straps with QR buckle.

MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior pouches including D-Rings.

2 x Velcro ID panels.

2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock

SRP £29.95

SPECIAL OPS POUCH Capacity: Material: Colours: Dimensions:

5.5 litres (approx) 600D Cordura V-Cam, Coyote, Green, Black 20 x 15 x 18 cm

MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior front External mag/phone pouch Sectional internals Fold out compartment Removable shoulder carry strap Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panel 2 x V-Lock, 1 x D-Lock

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MEET THE MAKER: PENTAGON

MANUFACTURERS PROFILE - PENTAGON

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At PMCI we always have our eyes peeled for brands emerging and this time we report back on some great gear from PENTAGON that we’ve had on test courtesy of Military1st in the UK!

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good part of my working life revolves around being down at the range. On average I try to shoot each and every month, whatever the weather. I’m also on the range in my spare time, both at home and abroad, as well, working on my training regime, and that can be in terms of “skills and drills” or in relation to practical shooting disciplines.

I am by no means a competition shooter but I do enjoy the challenges of a well thought out course of fire, and like many of you out there I’m lucky to have a good bunch of friends to shoot with on a regular basis. None of us (yet!) have reached the point of buying in specialist practical shooting rigs, instead relying on what we use more regularly.

At the Northern Shooting Show in the UK earlier this year I was lucky enough to be able to hang out with a whole bunch of friends from within the shooting industry. We’d all been watching the “Action Air” practical pistol competition going on over the course of the two days, and as exciting as we found it we came to the conclusion that for many shooters laying out on a completely separate set of gear might be a bit of an ask, even if you were loaded, and so we came up with the idea of “Tactical Three Gun” just for fun!

This would mean that shooters could be involved in the competition side of things using whatever guns and gear they already owned, keeping the costs down; in time I’m sure some would make the full jump to “practical” which could bring some new blood into that side of things from a wider pool. I returned home from the show and looked at what kit I normally use and for what clothing I use at the range. I also looked at videos online, especially the one that has done the rounds of Keanu Reeves three gun training at Taran Tactical. He wears simple jeans, a t-shirt, and a ballcap. That’s it, nothing fancy there. Kitwise he has a pistol belt, holster, and pouches for his carbine magazines and shotgun shells. Simple, to the point.

I already run a battle belt with a very similar setup so that was a no-brainer. I usually wear a mixture of tactical and outdoor performance brands when I head to the range as I find those give a nice balance between comfort, protection from the elements, and durability. The outdoor gear is also designed with dynamic movement in mind, so I find what’s good for climbing and mountaineering is also good shooting attire.

As it happened, with all this spinning round in my mind I’d just been sent some new Pentagon gear to test, as Military1st, at the time of writing, have just installed an in-depth range from the manufacturer, adding to their already comprehensive line-up of top-quality brands. Pentagon have been around in the UK for a little while now, but up until this point it’s been a bit hit and miss where you’ll find it; not so anymore!

PENTAGÕ NOS, FIVE-ANGLED

So who are Pentagon and where have they come from?

Well to start the ball rolling their name is actually pretty clever in itself. Pentagon (pentagōnos) is a noun of ancient Greek origin meaning “five angled”.

In the Pentagon logo the five angles symbolise the human form itself with the head and four limbs, along with the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.

Pretty neat, right?

In terms of making gear though Pentagon has been active in the field of military clothing and accessories since 1991 when the company started in Germany as a modest retail shop selling new and used military surplus goods. In 1993 the business moved and expanded with the opening of a new wholesale warehouse in Northern Greece.

In the late 90’s a new generation of customers were showing up searching for military and law enforcement clothing and gear with technologically advanced fabrics, new and improved pocket arrangements and contemporary fitting styles. Most of these products demanded could only be found in recognised outdoor sports brands and in colours that were not appropriate for the military and law enforcement sector.

That is when Pentagon decided to fill this gap, and they started by looking for manufacturers and partners that were producing for leading outdoor companies so as to acquire a thorough understanding of the technology of modern fabric construction and material functionality.

POLO 2.0 comes with either long or short sleeves and has a standard placket with three buttons, along with knitted no-roll collar and cuffs. Made in 60% Cotton/40% Polyester it feels great against the skin.

RANGETIME!

My personal range is set up in some private woodland owned by a friend. It’s set well back from any public access and as it’s part of their grounds it’s also fenced so nobody can wander in. The woodland is slightly angled upwards and they’ve allowed me to dig in a small bermed back stop to ensure that rounds are unable fly “out of bounds” behind the targets. It gives me a maximum overall shooting distance of 30m which is just about right in terms of the .22LR M&P I train with.

There are no real facilities other than an old pub-type bench/ table combo as I purposely keep the range as natural as possible; this also means that if it’s cold or raining I need to have the right gear on. With this in mind when I first spoke to Military1st about the Pentagon gear I had a really clear idea of what I wanted to look at.

First up of course is what goes next to the skin, and Pentagon offer a super, well-priced base-layer range; I’ve not tested that as yet as it really hasn’t been cold enough to warrant it, but I will tell you that the fit is great and the fabric feels really comfortable against the skin. What I have worn regularly is the POLO 2.0 shirt; this is part of Pentagons Tactical Duty Series (T.D) which has a casual straight fit design with contemporary look and feel. The

In relation to trousers pentagon have a whole range of different designs, from the classic military/LE look to some really advanced styles that have obviously be purposely designed with the “tactical athlete” in mind. I chose a pair of the HYDRA CLIMBING PANTS. These have been designed to be strong enough for highly demanding outdoor applications yet comfortable and stylish for casual everyday use. The trousers feature two deep hand pockets with reinforced fillets, two rear pockets with zippers and spacious side cargo pockets for necessary tools or personal accessories.

MEET THE MAKER: PENTAGON

They invested in the art of pattern making so they could achieve the perfect fit for high-intensity activities that also provided high levels of comfort and an aesthetic which was missing from the classic military and law enforcement products.

Finally after many years of research and development and working closely with Military, Police, Fire fighters, Rescue and Security teams they developed a totally new product series which came to be known as “Tactical Sportswear™”. This was their answer to an advanced military clothing and gear concept which incorporates quality, technology, design and aesthetic all in one package and their motto to complement all this is “Gear Up!™”

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MEET THE MAKER: PENTAGON

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The pants also come with an internal ventilation system with mesh protection for extra breathability and comfort. With the main body made of 100% Polyester soft-shell, strengthened with Nylon Ripstop fabric which has two-way stretch elasticity, the Hydra Climbing Pants are a must-have for those who are interested in any kind of dynamic pursuit, and are the perfect year-round range pant.

Within the range Pentagon have an absolutely huge variety of fleece and mid-layer garments for you to choose from, but for when the weather gets cooler I do like a nice down vest or jacket. High quality and ultra-lightweight, the HECTOR vest comes with warm duck down insulation and an outer layer made of breathable, windproof and water repellent nylon fabric. The vest features a soft fleece lined collar, full front YKK VISLON zipper, two front hand pockets and chest pocket with internal security loop. The vest also has an adjustable bottom hem with elastic cords, elasticated hem on arm holes and an internal zipped pocket for added storage. Part of clothing layering system, the Hector Vest is low-profile and absolutely spot-on. The new GERAKI Jacket from Pentagon is a warm and super-light down jacket with duck down insulation, super soft Nylon Taslon Rip-Stop patches and genuine YKK zipper hardware. The jacket keeps warmth inside and offers superb protection against the cold and windy weather. With multiple YKK zipped pockets, elasticated cuffs and adjustable bottom hem, the Geraki Jacket is ideal for the true winter months when you really need some warmth!

Although Pentagon offer a full range of waterproof shells I find a good soft shell works best for me. The ARTAXES is a comfortable and multi-functional soft shell jacket with a two-way full front zipper and high collar with a chin guard of grid fleece. A large “cobra-style” hood is concealed within the collar and is lined with a warm grid fleece. Its size and fit can be easily adjusted with elastic cords with cord-locks placed at the back and each side of the hood, and inside both chest pockets.

The jacket features eight practical pockets placed on the chest, both sleeves and lower back, all lined with mesh or grid fleece.

The inner lining of super-fine Grid-Tech fleece offers both excellent thermal protection and body moisture management as it traps the heat inside while allowing moisture to escape freely. Breathable and water-resistant Storm-Tex membrane makes the jacket suitable for mild to cold weather conditions and its elastic outer shell offers optimal comfort of movement.

The Artaxes jacket is perfect for range use all year round, and I particularly like the fact that Pentagon offer many of their jacket models in “Range Red” as well as tactical colours.

In addition to clothing Pentagon also have a great range of accessories. For warm weather use they have a super range of ballcaps which won’t break the bank, and for when things get cooler they offer both wool and synthetic watch caps and beanies. I’ve not yet had any of their glove models to test but the THEROS summer and the KARIA tactical gloves certainly look to be good designs.

I’ve been using the Pentagon gear for a little over two months now and I have to report that I’m very impressed so far with comfort and performance. The trousers and polos have been worn a LOT already on the range, combined with the soft shell jacket on cooler, damper days. I used both the vest and the down jacket when I camped at the Northern show and I can attest to the fact that they are both 100% toasty.

I’ve got several field tests planned, and sadly British summertime is looking to be at its usual not-best. The Pentagon gear is coming with me so I can give it a full-on outdoor test and I’ll report back more on individual pieces over time.

If you’re looking for good outdoor gear then Pentagon most definitely have it in their line, but if like me you want some solid, well-priced kit for the range and possibly a little “Tactical Three Gun” then you need look no further, just head to www.military1st. co.uk, pick Pentagon under “BRANDS”, and you’re good to go!

My thanks again go to www.military1st.co.uk for kindly supplying the test garments featured in this article.

MEET THE MAKER: PENTAGON

PENTAGON HAVE YOU COVERED!

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SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL

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SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL Trampas Swanson takes a good look at a family company making holsters that are every bit as individual as you are!

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s anyone in the shooting community can attest to, the hot new trend in holster construction over the past 15 years has become kydex material. This seemingly amazing material has made holster maintenance “easier than it was� with its leather counterpart, but wiping out the holster should still be a regular habit. An interesting detail about a kydex holster is that you can actually get the debris out instead of it getting embedded in a traditional leather holster.

Maintenance is made easy by simply wiping it out or running it under running water. If done right, a kydex holster can prove to be much more comfortable, lightweight and easy to access than its leather counterpart as well. With limitless colour and pattern options available today, kydex creations have taken the industry by storm.

A little over a year ago, I started seeing some very impressive custom kydex holsters popping up online in my local gun trading web community of over 6000 members called Jacksonville Gun Trader (JGT). These holsters appeared to be well made and fit the guns displayed in them cleanly and with a good looking style. Very intelligent and seasoned shooters, whose opinions I deeply respect were all commenting on a new holster maker they have been using for custom creations to carry their prized handguns. As I researched these holsters a

A few days later, John Phillips and I had what would end up being the first of many meetings discussing the firearm industry, holsters and what makes his designs a step ahead of the competition. According to John, Survivor Creek Tactical was born in 2014 out of an nspiration from a former co-worker who managed to support his passion for fishing and boating by making a name for himself maintaining and repairing boats, despite still working full-time at the utility. For John, he knew he loved shooting sports and wanted to be more involved. His “lightbulb” went off the first time he saw a kydex holster being made in person. He was hooked. He was overwhelmed by the desire to learn how. He describes a feeling that he just knew ....knew he would make a quality product. The more information John studied with the processes, the more convinced he became. His wife Angelique may have thought he was a little “nuts” at first, but never once questioned his conviction. John stated in our discussion, “She believed me when I told her I could do it.” The more holsters John made, the more input he got from the JGT community. The more John listened, the more his builds would begin to reflect the voice of the real life shooter and concealed carrier. Instead of selling online to somebody on the other side of the country that he would never meet or talk to, he built for the local community first and developed designs based on those interactions

SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL

bit more, I discovered these products came from a local company here in Florida named Survivor Creek Tactical founded by John Phillips. I decided I wanted to see these holsters in person and find out what made his company so popular in the midst of everyone and their mother cranking out homemade kydex holsters in their garage these days. I contacted John and set up a time to meet at my office later that week. As I found out, Survivor Creek Tactical was created to allow John to explore his talent for building quality gear while he continues to actually work full-time as a lineman for a large utility company.

A FAMILY CONCERN

As time went on and John’s list of what he would do differently on various designs and well as original design ideas grew, he and his lovely wife, Angelique decided it was time to take a leap of faith in the goal of finding his calling in life. With weeks of deep study and self-taught methods, John found his stride in making

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SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL

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these holsters and shopped them around for input. As time went on, the skills blossomed and word of mouth also known as the internet chat groups grew and people started lining up on a waiting list to buy one of these custom holsters. Since then, this family owned and operated business has allowed for Angelique to now work at Survivor Creek full time making holsters while John remains the master craftsman for the “one off projects” as well as assisting in the bulk orders.

To say that John is a student of the human frame combined with the natural lines of the firearms he works with is an understatement. I was provided several samples of John’s work to inspect as we began to talk. Through our conversation, it was clear John had a passion for holsters and giving his clients the finest possible product for their money. I was moved by the way he meticulously described how he created his holsters and

what he took into consideration when building them. So moved in fact, I decided Survivor Creek Tactical and my company, Swanson Media Group needed to work together as we moved forward. In the coming months, several holsters were made and used during the testing phase of various handguns provided to my company for 90 and 120 day reviews for major media outlets both in print and online.

As with many great products, the devil is in the details.

While at first glance, a Survivor Creek Tactical holster may look like any other kydex holster, but when you put one on and holster a pistol, you will find the fit, form and comfort second

to none. The reason is because great detail is paid to a custom holster and how it will ride on the person it is intended for. John studies the person’s unique body type, how high / low, in / out and angle the pistol will ride on the end user. So just who is the average user for a Survivor Creek Tactical holster? Well, any and every one from firearms trainers, local Law Enforcement, DEA, FAA, US Marshals, Doctors, Lawyers and various standard and specialised military personnel who operate out of the various bases in and around the Jacksonville, FL area.

With a relatively small production of around 80 – 100 holsters a month, the emphasis is on quality instead of quantity in making the right product the first time. While custom holsters do take a bit longer, Survivor Creek Tactical does offer pre-made holsters at local stores and online. The standard holsters made for mass production and store front sale are a great example of generic ride and cant that translate very well to most people.

Ranging from open top, rotating hood and light, laser, optics bearing holsters to name just a few, I have yet to find one of John’s creations that didn’t fit the intended firearms like a glove.

Personally, I now own several Survivor Creek creations from on the belt, inside the waist band holsters, knife sheaths and magazine carriers. Incorporating some great technology like the RTI modular platforms, I am able to switch out my holster quickly from a belt mount to a Molle mount when training and teaching firearms classes. With John’s unique understanding of a shooters needs, it is easy to articulate exactly how I need a holster to fit, operate and look for all my shooting, training and magazine “photo op” needs. In the time I have had John’s company provide holsters for our training and media group, I have had nothing but compliments from our clients, students and follow trainers about the products Survivor Creek Tactical has produced. Looking through the long list of products this company can provide standard or fabricate, the pricing is very reasonable starting around $50 and fair considering the craftsmanship you will receive. There is a wide range of colours, camo patterns, carbon fiber textures and even custom ideas submitted by YOU the customer that can be made into a variety of shooting accessories as well as unique custom rigs.

To find the custom kydex product right for you, check them out at www.survivorcreek.com and join the thousands of shooters currently enjoying their holsters.

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When you need to keep cool in the harshest of environments you really need something a bit special! Trampas Swanson checks out some gear that is exactly that in the form of YETI Coolers YES! Yeti coolers are more expensive than the Walmart cooler you grew up with. Let’s go ahead and allow the elephant in the room take an early exit in this review. This isn’t to immediately shed a dark light on a product review; its intended to do the exact opposite by getting the wave of couch dwelling so called “experts” out of the way, who are constantly on social media with childish and uninformed remarks such as “I’d never pay $500 for a cooler” and “My $50 Brand X cooler could probably do the same job”. These guys must have amazing imaginations to be able to field test a high end piece of outdoor equipment without having to leave the comforts of their home. I never see these guys at Tiffany’s when I buy my wife jewelry or at the BMW lot heckling buyers from wanting luxury cars, oh wait, that would again force them to get off the couch and put the computer down. For those nay sayers, shut up, get outdoors and do something with your life; for the rest of us, I welcome you to check out a simple review of the Tundra 110 cooler given after it’s been through the blazing firing range heat, used to feed aging warriors during out open fire festivities and trekked from the Sunshine state to the Steel City with great results.

To start with, I will say this, I am NOT rich in the least bit, at least when it comes to money that is. I am simply a husband and father, who wants the best product for his hard earned dollar. Like you, I grew up with a family cooler from some top 1980’s brand like Coleman or Igloo. Over the years, ice melted hourly in them as the water soaked the duct tape holding these subpar coolers together for another trip. As an adult, I choose wisely with family finances and don’t mind spending extra for the right product rather than just jumping on the buzz word bandwagon of what’s currently popular. This is where I stood when I was asked to review the Tundra 110 by Yeti.

Upon its arrival, the Tundra 110 arrived in a cardboard box large enough for my then 19 month old daughter to turn into a temporary playhouse. It was much larger than one could imagine just by reading the Yeti website info. Measuring 37”x17.5”x20” on the outside and 30.25”x11.25”x14.5” on the inside, this cooler was far from those described from my past. Due to its impressive exterior size, I had to step outside and measure the cargo area of my canoe to make sure our future adventures would not be over before they began. To my relief, I was still 4 inches or more in the clear for getting the ball rolling on field test!

Roto-molded in bright white polyethylene and proudly made in the USA, this 110 quart cooler offered two very easy to use rubber “T-Rex” latches (as Yeti refers to them) to secure its lid. On each end of the cooler were heavy duty rope handles with hard plastic grip bars to prevent the rope from digging into your hand as you carried it. As explained

by Yeti, the Tundra 110 was designed specifically for river rafting which is why the lid and handles ride so high on the coolers walls in order to clear most standard name brand raft frames and keeping the weight centered low. Located on the bottom of the cooler are non-slip feet which keep the cooler in place during even the wettest environments we could find.

TECH AND TOOLS: Yeti Coolers

YETI COOLERS

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

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TECH AND TOOLS: Yeti Coolers

pmcimagazine.com Weighing in at around 37lbs empty, the Tundra 110 takes a good bit of strength for just one person to move it any real distance once it’s fully loaded.

Despite losing a good amount of room on the inside due to the thick Permafrost insulated walls of the cooler’s design, there was still plenty of room for the job it needed to serve. Inspecting the inside, I discovered grooves in the walls to allow for added dividers and a steel basket that rides along the cooler’s top to help separate smaller items from getting lost in the main chamber. Along the lid’s interior was a freezer-like rubber gasket that helped the cooler close up airtight to help seal in the cold. During my initial inspection of the cooler, I had enough looking and was ready to start doing!

It was time to load up and get ready to see for myself how the Tundra 110 would work out.

RANGE TIME WITH THE YETI

Here in Florida, the temperature on deck of a typical firearms range where we teach can reach 110 degrees on the concrete during an urban rifle course or CQB pistol class. On these days especially, hydration and keeping cool are most important.

The Yeti Tundra 110 serves the traditional role of keeping your drinks ice cold while its strong exterior offers many other advantages. In certain training areas, getting supplies to the remote venue can be a challenge in itself. Trip after trip, the Tundra 110 has survived being bounced around in the back of the truck, strapped to an ATV as well as drug up a few river banks after being off loaded from a boat.

During a recent trip to “The Swamp” training grounds, friend and fellow shooter, Jared Peltz demonstrated how the Tundra 110 could be used as a stable platform for close and long range shooting. The non-slip feet and wide top surface area help level your rifle while using a bipod and offer a comfortable seat to rest during instruction time. For most of the day, two men 200lb+ sat on the cooler when not engaging targets and studied their shot placement photos without even the slightest dent in the cooler’s surface.

By the end of the session, the cooler was just as cold after hours of being in direct sunlight as when the day started that morning. Less than 3 ounces of water poured out from the drain plug before moving out from our secluded location. To put this in perspective, standard procedure is to just dump out the cooler before leaving due to most of the ice in other coolers previously test having been melted by over 60% by the end of the day. On this trip, the ice was reusable for the next day.

FIELD TESTING ON THE ROAD AND WATER

During my time testing the Tundra 110 cooler, I decided to cook a 45lb hog for some of the guys who help out with our test and evaluations regularly during one of our meetings.

Two days prior, I picked up the hog and iced it down inside the Yeti along with spices and rub to pretreat the meat. After approximately 55 hours later in mid-70s outside temperatures, the hog was removed from the cooler. Not only was the meat cold, it had actually frozen solid and needed a couple of hours to thaw out before cooking!

The day after the pig cook out, the cooler was thoroughly cleaned and loaded in the back of my Chevy Suburban for a 15 hour road trip from Jacksonville, FL to the “Steel City” of

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Pittsburgh, PA. From the beach to the mountains and back in a span of six days, the ice kept all of our drinks on the way there ice cold. On the way back, not only did we have to chill sodas, I had a special package of bear meat and even a full bear skull en route to my local taxidermist! Upon my return home, everything was still ice cold! To say this cooler’s ability to keep ice from melting is impressive is a huge understatement.

While I may have needed a rest from traveling adventures, the Yeti Tundra 110 did not! My friend and co-worker, Craig Reinolds took an opportunity to load the cooler up into his canoe and take an overnight trip down the St Mary’s River and deep into the great Okefenokee Swamp. With trips like this,

The construction of the Tundra 110 is designed to last a life time by using very easy to replace hardware at key wear points, allowing the user to maintain the cooler over the years.

With just a little care and maintenance, I fully expect the Tundra 110 to look and perform just as well for my daughter when she is old enough to strike out on her own adventures with it. Truth being told, I will probably be so attached to my Yeti cooler by then, I will just resolve to dish out another $500 and buy her a new Yeti Tundra of her choosing. By then, I only hope Yeti produces a cooler in my daughter’s favorite colors of either pink or purple versus the generic white or horrid seafoam options they have today.

To wrap up, let’s look at the most important factors. As I stated in the beginning, yes, the Tundra 110 is expensive.

Retailing for $500, this is not and never will be the cooler you pick up at the 7-11 convenience store when you forget yours at home and need ice. The Yeti 110 is big, heavy, as tough as a $2 steak, easy to clean and most importantly, it does its damn job! When you absolutely need ice to last regardless whether it’s to ensure a cold beer at the end of a day or keep vital medical supplies cooled in a hostile environment, the Tundra 110 by Yeti will not fail you. To learn more about Yeti coolers and other great products, visit them at www.yeticoolers.com.

TECH AND TOOLS: Yeti Coolers

your ability to survive comfortably depends on only what you bring along. With a light load of ice, the Yeti kept lunch meats, sodas, and supplies cool for the entire round trip to keep Craig in luxury among the alligators, snakes and wild boar.

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ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

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THE BEST SNIPER RIFLE IN THE WORLD At PMCI all of try to make time to get out and meet with some fabulous people who in themselves are leaders within the tactical industry, and recently Nige took the opportunity to make a rare visit to this record-holding arms manufacturer, based near Portsmouth.

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s the owner of Calibre Publishing and PMCI my days are pretty full-on but every so often something happens that really grabs my attention and, on this occasion, it was a phone call from an industry colleague; when I recognised the number showing on my phone, of course I stopped what I was doing to answer it, and boy am I glad I did!

I won’t bore you with the details of the call but when I was asked; “Nigel, we would like to invite you to accompany us on a visit to Accuracy International on the 3rd of May, would you like to come?” my metaphorical hand was in the air in less than a nanosecond! I just hoped that they didn’t notice the excitement in my voice as I answered in the affirmative.

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

Believe it or not, the company that was to go on to produce the best sniper rifle in the world started when shooting buddies, Dave Walls and David Caig, decided to see if they could make working replicas of two 19th century Colt pistols by using just photographs for reference. To say that they were “good” would be a massive understatement, so much so that a Colt revolver expert later told them “If you built these from just pictures, you should be in the business of making guns!” In fact, it was only when the expert noticed a notch (used for

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known as “The Green Meanie”. It was not long after this that Malcolm Cooper learnt that there was to be a competition to find a replacement for the (now past its prime) L42A1 sniper rifle, which had been in service since 1970. Malcolm’s reputation as a target shooter was such that it resulted in an invitation from the MoD to submit a proposal based on AI’s 7.62mm target rifle, and the now-famous L96A1 was born.

In 1985 it was announced that the AI PM rifle had defeated the Parker Hale Model 85, the H&K PSG-1, the SIG Sauer SSG 2000 and the Remington 700 to become the standard sniper rifle for the British Army and, on the 11th March 1985, Accuracy International received and contract to supply 1,212 rifles. Clearly the garden shed would no longer be a suitable place to manufacture the rifles, so after a false start when they sub-contracted the work, CNC machines were acquired along with a facility in Portsmouth and production of the L96A1 contract continued until 1992.

The reputation of the L96A1 grew rapidly and, in response to an enquiry from Swedish armed forces, the L96 was adapted to operate with equal reliability in cold environments and given the designation “AW”, standing for “Arctic Warfare”. In 1991 the modified design (AW308) resulted in an order of 1,100 rifles from Sweden and, under the designation L118A1, has subsequently been taken into use by over 60 military and law enforcement agencies.

Further development saw numerous configurations being developed, including being chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Win.Mag (a variant of which was purchased by the German BWB as the G22 and which was also the first AI rifle to feature David Caig’s folding stock design).

Success followed success until 1999, when 90% of Accuracy International was sold to an investment group, saddling the company with an unsustainable debt load and by 2004 AI was is serious financial difficulty. In February 2005, having failed to recapitalise the business, the company started to sell off its assets and by the 18th of that month, all employees had been laid off and AI had ceased all operations… but that was not the end of Accuracy International.

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

mounting an optional shoulder stock) was missing from the right hand side of one of the guns, that “the Daves” had to ‘fess up and admit that they were not original but had been manufactured by them in their spare time, using machines where they worked.

Dave and David were not only co-workers but also extremely proficient target shooters at the same club and both had represented their individual countries (David Caig being Scottish) at international level. Together they repaired and tuned the club’s rifles and pistols and subsequently created “C&W Products” to cope with the business (working out of Dave’s garden shed), however, it wasn’t long until the pair turned their attention to target rifles and set about designing their own “long”.

It was about this time that they met Malcolm Cooper, who was later to become a World Champion and Olympic Champion (twice!). When shown the replica pistols, Malcolm was so impressed he commented that they obviously had the skills to design their own rifle. “But we have already done that” was the reply and this lead to Malcolm using a C&W rifle in the 1978 World Championship in Seoul, where he came away with a Silver Medal.

1978 was also the year that Accuracy international was established and by 1981 they had designed their third prototype rifle, which already carried features that would typify future designs, including their “signature” thumbhole stock.

Until this time, most “sniper” rifles were actually modified (yet somewhat dated) military bolt-actions or hunting rifles that had been customised for use in the sniping role but, based upon their experience with target shooting rifles and taking input from actual snipers, AI designed a rifle specifically for the role. The first customer for the “Precision Marksman” rifle was none other than the Special Boat Service (SBS) who, following a successful evaluation in 1984, acquired 8 rifles the following year. This was closely followed by the SAS, who purchased 32 of the same rifle later that year.

Feedback from both the SBS and SAS was instrumental in refining the rifle further and, as a result of the rifle’s colour and its ability to deliver first round hits on target, it quickly became

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ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

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Tom Irwin, an independent contractor working for AI in the USA, along with Dave Walls, Dave Caig and Financial Director, Paul Bagshaw managed to put a last-minute rescue plan together and on the 3rd of May business was restarted. Dave Walls later commented that the bankruptcy was “a blessing in disguise …because it gave [me] the chance to be part of the management team once again and to assist in radically changing the way we manufacture products.”

This new approach rapidly brought success in gaining new business and in 2007 the MoD awarded AI a contract to supply 582 systems in .338 calibre to replace the L96A1. The new rifle, designated L115A3, entered service with the British Army in April and it was with this rifle that, in November 2009, CoH Craig Harrison recorded the longest sniper kill in combat when he killed two Taliban insurgents from a distance of 2,474 metres (8,120 feet or 1.54 miles in old money!). There is a Guinness World Records Certificate hanging in AI’s conference room to attest to the fact and also something that you maybe didn’t know… Craig also took out the insurgent’s machine gun with a third shot!

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DOWNRANGE

During our visit both Tom Irwin and Dave Walls spent a large proportion of the day with us, while we were shown around the entire facility by Alice Bond, who had been AI’s primary USA Dealer/Importer; and that translates to the production of products that truly reflect the very nature of Accuracy International. Nothing was too much trouble and all our questions were fully answered, often with a fair amount of humour where Dave was concerned.

I have to say that sitting in Accuracy International’s Conference Room (known as “Sniper”), talking with champion shooters while surrounded by medals, plaques and, of course, a wall full of awesome rifles (including “C&W 003”, the original 3rd prototype) was an amazing thrill; but even that was surpassed when I was allowed to get behind an AX308 fitted with a top of the range Schmidt and Bender optic and put some real rounds downrange!

The latest in a long and distinguished line of combat proven sniper rifles, the AX series comprises the stand-alone AX308

I don’t know how I managed it but the first four shots were all within the diameter of a five-pence piece however, annoyingly, all were slightly high and to the left of centre, which is where I was actually aiming. So for my fifth shot I decided to ignore the grouping and prove to myself that I controlled the rifle, not the other way round and promptly put my final round straight through the centre of the target! Boy did that make me feel good!

I was very proud as I stood up but secretly I knew that it probably had more to do with the quality of the rifle than the skill of the shooter but what the heck, the target was still destined for my office wall!

TIME TO LEAVE

determined not to make a hash of it.

Remembering everything I could from those early “lessons” (I was actually one of only two “Marksmen” on the Squadron, the other being my elder brother) I concentrated on the target and tried to ignore everything around me. Bring the cross hairs up… settle on the intended point of impact… control your breathing… gently “squeeze”, don’t “snatch” the trigger… and “bang”! Don’t de-focus… check the point of impact… reload and go again!

Well, that was the theory anyway!

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

(.308 Win) and the multi calibre AXMC, a .338 Lap Mag which can be reconfigured to .300 Win Mag or.308 Win in minutes simply by changing the barrel, bolt and magazine/insert.

The base rifle has a right side folding stock over bolt, adjustable cheekpiece, adjustable buttpad with spacers, pistol grip, flush cup sling attachment points, 30MOA STANAG 4694/Mil Std 1913 action rail and 16” forend tube and rail, double chamber standard muzzle brake, 1 x 140mm plain accessory rail, 2 x 80mm flush cup accessory rails, and comes as standard with one 10 round double stack CIP magazine. Available with black or green stocksides with black metalwork or pale brown stocksides and metalwork this is one beast of a rifle!

The man in charge of the range (where they also test every single rifle for accuracy and consistency before it leaves the factory) was an ex-Royal Marine sniper and the colleagues I visited with are proficient shooters (one of the guys having shot for the Army Team GB!), so it was with some trepidation that I seated myself behind the AX and pulled the butt into my shoulder for the first shot. Unlike Bill and the majority of the PMCI contributor team who spend a LOT of time on the range the last time I fired a bolt-action rifle was as a Cadet down on Purfleet ranges, with my RSM standing on my feet so that I didn’t get shoved off the line by the recoil and offering me words of encouragement, such as “Streeter! If you don’t hold that bl**dy rifle properly you’ll be taking it home somewhere where the sun don’t shine!!” So, as you can imagine, as I brought the rifle up and peered through the scope at a target that looked scarily small 100 metres away, I was

In conclusion, I have to say that I found the visit very, very enjoyable, and not just because I got to shoot an AX 308 but also because of the openness and willingness of everyone we met to take an interest in what we do and why we were there.

All that remains is for me to say a huge thank you to everyone at Accuracy International for making me one very happy bunny!

For more information on the current range offered by Accuracy International and for full specifications on all their excellent rifles please visit www.accuracyinternational.com

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ARMOURY: ZEROING

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EYES ON! Marksman. Sniper. Sharpshooter. Rifleman. Hunter. AKA You! No matter what your mission involves, nor your overall objectives, when it comes to applying pressure to the trigger there’s only one outcome that counts and frankly, nothing else matters. A HIT.

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uring Range time we can all see ourselves as “Hot Shots” when it comes to ever decreasing group sizes, especially at increased ranges.

But one thing’s for sure, the methods used by some for achieving “Accuracy Nirvana” leave a lot to be desired.

Hi Guys. I’m Chalkster. And once again I’m delighted to return to your pages with my second instalment for PMCI. This time I’d like to cover the age old subject matter of efficient weapon ZEROING. Being a serving Armourer allows for an intimate understanding of what’s going on during the cycle/action of mechanism when a weapon is fired. Without question, this knowledge helped achieve my career highlight of Individual Champion Shot at the 2010 INTERCORPS.OSC (UK) Having enjoyed many a year of competitive shooting tournaments, I’ve acquired a useful understanding of best practice, which can not only be employed when coaching new guys, but also of course those seniors who’ve become in their own words “a little rusty”.

ZEROING. So what is it? How can we master this Black Art? The majority of you have your own colourful backgrounds within

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the Military Services around the World, and no doubt each of these will have their own particular methods to attempt the most efficient manner of bringing their firers onto target and reducing group sizes accordingly.

Range time is an invaluable asset and to that end should never be looked upon as a chore or for that matter unbeneficial.

That attitude should be dismissed by all who hold it.

Today, as in the past, the most accomplished shooters have all carried with them the understanding of what’s happening when the rounds they’ve fired go down range.

It’s not Voodoo, nor some kind of super human gift that produces the best Shooters out there, more a combination of Practice, Patience, Posture & Mechanical Understanding.

Let’s now focus on the mechanics behind the Aim. Firstly, what is a Group, a description given to the fall of shot upon a target. A group may consist of x3 rounds or more (normally x5 rounds) which will indicate where a firers MPI (Mean Point Of Impact) is falling, relevant to where upon the target they are aiming.

By adjusting a weapon’s sights, either Open or Telescopic in design, when the rounds fall where you’re aiming (at a specific distance of engagement)you are effectively ON and as a result that particular weapon is now zeroed to the firer. However, let’s

sort of improvements which were instant and a great pleasure to witness the leap in morale for those firers involved.

‘BALLS’ (B.A.L.S)

This was my Simple 4-Point program which has proven to improve not only the Zeroing efficiency of my recruits, but has further lead to their increased shooting abilities.

When broken down into the individual areas of focus, there’s absolutely nothing special about it whatsoever. It’s just the manner by which it’s easy to remember and employ these steps on the firing point prior to pulling the trigger. Breaking it down, let us first assume weapon and ammo preparation has taken place and conditions are good. Your range complex is ready to go and you’re cleared to fire.

For the purposes of this article I’m describing the process discussed as if we’re using a standard issue American Assault Rifle (weapon system without bi-pod), but in theory this could apply to most lower receiver magazine fed weapons.

Shooting will be carried out in the prone position with x30 round magazine rested.

Much comment over the years has focussed on whether a magazine base should be held off the ground or utilised as a point of contact with whatever ground surface you’re on.

I make absolutely no hesitation in endorsing the latter discipline. A standard issue magazine is more than robust enough in design to be used as a point of stability when firing from a prone position. A firers choice to balance uncomfortably on their elbows alone is their own personal decision, but utilising the elbows as well as the magazine-base therefore providing three points of contact to support the weapon platform can be compared to the stability provided by a three-legged stool and that of a two-legged stool.

Stability yields accuracy, Fact. Only where undesirable ground conditions dictate, such as wet mud or water, leading to potential ingress of debris within the magazine itself, a perceived risk of stoppages may result, therefore ground awareness is a governing factor. There’s no argument, so let’s move on.

ARMOURY: ZEROING

remember this achievement will only be relevant to the location in which you are currently at! Once you have moved to a different Grid, all be that another Country, with differing altitude or ground temperature, all factors between locations must be taken into account. Ammunition storage temperatures will also cause significant effect to weapon ballistics and the desired fall of shot.

Always therefore re-check zero as soon as is practical on arrival in your new AO. So in an effort to achieve our tight groups and taking as read the conditions in which we find ourselves, good weather, no wind etc. The overall goal is to be satisfied with our individual results knowing you have the confidence in where the round is going to impact. All this is to be achieved in the least amount of time and with as little ammunition wastage as possible.

I’m certain that most of you have been on the ranges in your careers, rain hammering down. You’re cold and wet, and you’ve lost your sense of humour many hours before (we’ve all been there) andnd there’s still one guy who’s fired off magazine after magazine in a pitiful effort to zero his weapon. Until one bright spark decides to have a look at what’s going on, only to discover the sighting system body is loose upon it’s frame and the firer is continually adjusting one direction to another chasing an error.

Morale plummets.

So who’s at fault? Was it the firer? Possibly not! If young and inexperienced they must be given that allowance. Good coaching should’ve removed that situation from the start of practice, ensuring weapon prep is carried out accordingly and the oversight of a loose Sighting System avoided. Pressure being heaped upon the firer already lacking experience and now morale, will only make achievement of better results even harder to find.

There are many different routes of tried and tested methods in achieving increased shooting standards. But sometimes, with a little improvisation far greater results can be gained just by focusing on more relevant areas that contribute to the science of shooting!

One simple program I employed when coaching my team members in years gone by yielded some very good results, the

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ARMOURY: ZEROING

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So what is ‘B’? It’s the single most influential component to accurate shooting.

It is of course BREATHING. Erratic fall of shot is easily diagnosed at the target when breathing has been a factor.

I’ve watched students/recruits taking their shots whilst observing their breathing patterns. Standing beside the firer laying in the prone position, it’s easy to see the rise & fall of the individuals back, (especially if wearing webbing) I could observe when releasing of the shot takes place and whether the firer had inhaled or exhaled at that time. When firing from a mag to ground position, the breathing issue is highlighted a little more. Releasing a shot on the inhale pivots the weapon system forward on the magazine pointing the muzzle down, giving a low impact on target, whereas a shot fired on an exhale, emptying the lungs of air, pivots the weapon system with the muzzle pointing upwards, high impacts on target.

This will be seen as a straight up-down pattern on target, exaggerated at increased distance.

Understand that any volume of air can be drawn during the inhale, so a consistent measure is difficult to achieve and be recognised by the firer. We all exhale to a comfortable point with each and every breath we take. This doesn’t alter unless physically forcing the exhale which is a deliberate effort and not that of a breath taken during a resting state.

When the firer recognises the point at which a breath has been comfortably exhaled now is the moment to initiate the shot. Gently squeezing the trigger with the end of the finger, pulling towards the firer in a linear rearward motion following the line of the weapon and avoiding any sideways applied pressure (especially highlighted when firing pistol) .

I always instructed my shooting team members to count off in their heads a deliberate pace similar to that of a drill movement ‘TWO. THREE’ Fire. Have the confidence to release the shot. Don’t hang around expecting some miracle alignment to occur!

You’ve ceased your breathing cycle temporarily, so pause and release the shot or increased heart rate will swiftly follow causing its own problems. Upon releasing the shot don’t simultaneously leap into releasing the trigger, a comfortable deliberate hold and then release. Sweet.

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BREATHING, IN SUMMARY.

When comfortably exhaled, having acquired the target in your sight window, hold the position while counting off (TWO.THREE) then maintaining that confidence release the shot. Wherever possible, always try and tailor your plate carrier/webbing configurations (if being worn) not to impact negatively on comfort/efficiency when in a prone position.

PART 2 OF THE SEQUENCE ‘A’ ALIGNMENT.

Not as important as the emphasis on breathing, but none the less a significant factor for consistent results. I’ve seen all manner of shapes and sizes sprawled out on various firing points over the years and it’s always a subject matter that makes me smile and cringe in equal measure. Too many firers clearly get their ideas from The Movies, because there’s no damn way they can think for one second that the positions they get themselves into are somehow going to be beneficial or for that matter comfortable in assisting their aims.

An octopus thrown on the firing point would look better suited to taking a shot than some of the examples I’ve witnessed.

Principals of aligning oneself with a perceived target area can be comparable to many a sporting genre, Golf. Pool. Tennis.

Hockey. Baseball even Basketball to name but a few.

Any arena that requires the alignment of ones body to encourage the best result’s, has to be understood to be appreciated. The easiest possible body position for a firer to adopt in the prone position is extremely simple and yet the benefits of correct posture are regularly overlooked by many.

Align your body behind your weapon system to directly face towards the target.

Use your body as an extension of that weapon to effectively become the barrel.

A straight spine is providing the natural alignment with the target. When I see legs and knees jutting out at varying angles I pull a face as if my girlfriends just asked what my favourite name for a pet parrot is??? I just fail to understand. Let’s briefly return to breathing. If your leg is sticking out at a 90 deg angle what affect will that have to your breathing as a result?

Especially if wearing CEFO with webbing pouches pressed into your sides! Your back is twisted and your pelvis and guts are directly acting against the natural operation of the ‘Diaphragm’ leading to laboured uncomfortable breathing.

Of course field conditions will always dictate what firing position can be used but just to reiterate as previously pointed out, our virtual range for the purposes of this article is perfect for our needs.

TO SUMMARISE ALIGNMENT.

Imagine yourself as an extension of the weapon system. Be as comfortable as possible in pointing directly towards your target.

Avoid unnecessary bulk/pouches affecting your position whilst laying in the prone. Maintain an even balance of peripheral vision to your flanks.

‘L’ STANDS FOR LEGS.

By maintaining this neutral leg position and ignoring the natural tendency to fidget and wriggle around, you block out the undesired distractions that you alone can initiate without even thinking. A little practice in this posture will soon become second nature.

Let us know how you get on with this, I’d be very interested to hear your results!

TO SUMMARISE LEGS.

Use what you’ve been given, a hugely powerful muscle group on your body. Transform yourself into the perfect stable platform, whilst combining body alignment and breathing technique. Avoid if possible poor distribution of additional kit (sidearm, spent magazine leg-pouch, etc) that could bring unhelpful interference when adopting the prone position.

OUR FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE ‘S’ SIGHTS & SIGHTING SYSTEMS

Sights are the means through which we acquire our target; without effective sights we are blind. Hundreds of open blade sights are out there and countless types of optics/scopes.

Some have good and bad points in equal measure, but most generally perform well.

TO SUMMARISE SIGHTS

Choose and employ the correct system for the weapon you’re using. If necessary, ensure it is correctly calibrated for the calibre of ammunition. Observe any component damage. Understand how the system operates, adjustments in elevation etc. Make sure everything works as it should and finally when it comes to mounting the sight to a weapon, do it correctly or seek help from someone who knows how to. Don’t cuff it.

Once again guys, these are tips and techniques I’ve learnt through the years and still successfully employ today. It works for most individuals but obviously not all. We must of course take into account that everyone’s body types are all different and as a result not all firing positions are easily achievable! Ultimately if something else works for the individual then use it.

There are other devices available within the industry such as Laser Bore Sighting equipment, which are generally very good and do serve a purpose, especially after having fitted a new sight to a weapon, but there’s not a massive advantage to such pieces of kit that you couldn’t achieve for free by bore sighting the weapon with a Mk.1 Eye Ball.

It’s easy to appreciate that Ammo costs between varying calibres would to a large extent dictate the cost effectiveness of such a luxury item in your range box. Remember, when basic principals are followed, a great deal of wasted time, money and effort can be saved and that can only be a good thing for everyone.

Stay safe wherever you find yourselves!

ARMOURY: ZEROING

This is very much a combined area of focus alongside Alignment.

As already highlighted the affect on breathing as a result of poor/ unnecessary leg position will be only too apparent. So forget the Action Man positions and try employing the following: Your legs both act as significant ground anchors when a prone position is being used. Along with the rest of your body/weight you’re turning your body mass into an effective Firing Platform.

As previously stated Stability = Accuracy. Next time you’re on the firing point just look at the number of firers with ‘Octopus Syndrome’ it’s contagious!

Lay flat on your belly in alignment with the target. It won’t be comfortable if you’re not inline. Straighten your legs and have your feet pointing directly outwards resting the inside of your footwear directly to ground. Position your feet inline with shoulder width or slightly wider if preferred. None of this heel in the air bollocks! There’s absolutely no need for it, pivoting your boot on your toe-caps? It’s just a distraction and an unnecessary one at that. You’ve just morphed your entire body into a purpose built platform. Solid, Stable, Comfortable, In-line with the intended target, Low Profile (Unless you want to put a little flag on the back of your heel) All the attributes that makes an efficient shooter.

Military standard magnification is normally x4 which provides good depth and focus through varying engagement distances.

The areas of primary concern will not only be the condition of the individual sighting system, but an understanding of how the sight itself functions. A clear knowledge of grids, pointers and graticules within the instrument will provide the end user the vital information on how to employ the kit correctly and utilise it’s capability to the full.

Basics must be observed upon receiving a new/alternative sight for your weapon of choice. First off is it calibrated to the ballistic performance of your weapon system?

No point fitting a sight which doesn’t equate to the calibre of the weapon being fired.

Secondly, when fitted, is it secure? And if provision allows is there unobstructed access for means of adjustments? (weapon working parts hindering accessibility etc). Most military scopes have a tough life. Lens components & eye pieces can become badly scratched and damaged over time. Screws for adjustment are prone to damage (especially by new recruits) As a result fine pitch and delicate threads are easily rendered unserviceable.

Check for free movement of these means of adjustment prior to hitting the ranges, it’ll save a great deal of inconvenience when you discover a fault on the firing point.

Eye relief is the next big concern. I’ve known guys who had their scopes set so far rearwards that by the end of the days firing it actually looked as if they had been in a boxing ring, cuts and bruises galore! It’s an individual’s preference of course, if that’s the way they like it, leave them to it. But being sensible about such things anything around an inch from eye to eye-piece is about right.

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SKILLS AND DRILLS: HOLSTERS

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SKILLS AND DRILLS: HOLSTERS This time we’re pleased to welcome another new contributor to the PMCI Team, Andy from Calibre Shooting. Since leaving the British Army in 2000, Andy has been involved with tactical and defence training as a Private Military Contractor gaining firsthand experience of tactical situations faced by those on the ground and joins us now to give insights into skills, drills, and associated gear.

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s any good tradesman would tell you the tools they use are what makes the job good, and with all tools there are accessories that complement them. The handgun is by far no exception to this rule. The handgun, to those that arm themselves for protection, defence and sports, has many after-market accessories to better the standard factory model. Such accessories include advance sighting systems, better ergonomic grips, custom trigger works and even advance coatings to name but a few. One of the most over looked and underestimated accessories is the holster.

The holster, in my opinion, is part of the handgun. For all intents and purposes the holster is a means to carry the handgun in a safe and convenient way whilst on duty or for everyday carry. It’s essentially a pocket specially designed to carry the handgun which affords quick and effective access when the handgun is needed in a hurry. Holsters can be minimalistic offering only a simple sleeve that covers the muzzle and trigger guard, or complex enough to offer full protection and a high security retention system. Size and colour is, in today’s market, a matter of choice for the individual, but no matter what holster you go for it’s important that your choice is one that fits the handgun and is comfortable to wear throughout the day and meets the standard required for the job.

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When choosing a holster there is many considerations to take into account; hot humid environments would play havoc with a good old traditional leather holster but would be best suited to one of the more modern materials such as Kydex. Normal duty wear in temperate conditions may best suit leather rather than a bulky synthetic holster. Holsters can be found in leather, Kydex, Spandex, Rayon and Polyester to name but a few. The method of construction is also a consideration for durability and even the possibility of maintenance in the field. Such builds can include one or more of the following methods. Rivets, Thread, glue and Velcro can all be found to play a part in the manufacturing proses.

Although the holster is a pocket to hold the handgun there must be a suitable system in place to ensure that the handgun does not fall out of or move around in the holster during use.

There are many retention systems that are built into holsters that facilitate this.

FREE RETENTION HOLSTERS

Free retention holsters offer no retention whatsoever. Holsters like the pocket and kidney holster offer no protection from the handgun being taken or from falling out when being carried.

Although speed of the draw is the number one factor here we do sacrifice security for speed.

Friction holsters tend to be gun specific. That is the holster is designed for one specific make and model of handgun, although there are universal fitting holsters available. The holster is molded to the shape of the gun and holds the handgun securely by the contours of the guns trigger guard, barrel and slide cutouts and also by the use of retention screws and clips. This type of holster is minimalistic and can be found in natural materials as well as man-made.

STRAP HOLSTERS

Strap holsters can be made from any suitable material and offer a much better retention than the friction kind. The use of a strap that wraps around the rear of the slide / hammer and is fastened via a press stud or Velcro offers a more secure platform. The strap usually has a stiffened brace, known as a thumb break, on the end to help release the strap during the draw.

HOOD GUARDS AND BUTTON

This type of holster offer maximum security and are often found in situations of conflict and nigh risk environments. The hood of the holster rides over the rear section of the slide on a semi auto handgun and over the hammer of a revolver, preventing it from being taken from any undesirables, whereas the button holster secures the handgun in the holster by the trigger guard and can only be released by the operator indexing a button that releases the locking mechanism. These holsters are found in plastic holsters or leather holsters built on a solid frame.

There are so many holsters on the market today that it can be a mine field of choice. Before we purchase a holster we need to know exactly what role it’s going to play. Although some manufacturers claim that their holsters are universal, this only

applies to the fit of the handgun and not the use. As time goes by you will come to realise that you will probably need more than one holster, even if you only own one handgun. A full retention holster may be great for duty carry but is totally useless for concealed carry or competitions. If this is the case then you will find that you have one gun and three holsters, one for duty, one for CCW and one for competitions.

There are two main areas we need to address when considering job roles; on body and off body.

Off Body refers to a holster that is not going to be worn when the gun is in place. Such off body holsters are the use of a Fanny Pack. This is a small bag that is secured around the waist and gives access to a holster secured inside. These are very popular with plain clothes operatives and CCW. Briefcases can also be used as off body carry. The briefcase offers maximum space for a large frame handgun and also enough space for extra magazines and ammunition. Purses are also a popular choice for off body CCW, these are usually carried in a larger bag or in the hand during travel. The off body method is mainly used when the threat levels are low or the handgun is not being used and in transit.

This method is slow on the draw and is of no use for immediate defence.

On Body refers to the handgun being carried in the traditional way, on person. Usually the holster and handgun are secured by a waste belt secured to the trousers. This is a much quicker method of carry for drawing the handgun in times of need. Once more we need to think of what role the holster has to play in our routine of daily carry. There are so many different holsters to choose from that it is quite easy to purchase the wrong holster for the wrong job. I have listed here some of the more common holsters and a brief description of their use.

SKILLS AND DRILLS: HOLSTERS

FRICTION HOLSTERS

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SKILLS AND DRILLS: HOLSTERS

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armour during the draw. Securing the holster and handgun on the chest can also reduce the weight of equipment on the belt, especially if the hand gun is a heavy large frame semi auto. The chest holster is only suited to overt carry and plays no part in Concealed carry.

Belly Bands are a kind of holster that is simply a band of elastic material that wraps around your middle. The band itself has many sections sewn into it that uses the elastic friction to hold the handgun in place. There are many other pockets sewn into the band that can carry extra magazines and other accessories such as a small torch and small personal items and ID. This system is slow on the draw and is best suited to lose or baggy outer garments as the contents of the band have a tendency to print if many items are carried.

Shirt Holster is a snug fitting shirt, usually worn under a dress shirt that has a small pocket sewn in under the arm pit.

This small pocket is suitable to house a small semi-automatic handgun with ease and with minimal printing of the handgun if worn with lose fitting over garments.

Shoulder Rigs are designed to home the handgun under the arm pit area. Due to the configuration of the shoulder straps used to secure the holster, the holster is more than adequate to hold heavy large frame semi autos. There are two methods of carry with the shoulder holster, horizontal and vertical carry. This refers to the direction the muzzle points during carry. Shoulder holsters are a cross draw holster only and are comfortable to wear for long periods and ideal for use in vehicles where the more traditional belt carry holster causes problems when seated. Although shoulder holsters are considered CCW they do tend to be bulky and have a habit of printing unless they are used in conjunction with lose or baggy clothing.

Chest Holsters are more of a duty carry holster. Wearing the holster on the chest frees up room on the duty belt for other items. The use of some body armour can hinder the draw of a handgun being carried on the belt due to the thickness of the armour causing the handgun to catch or snag on the

Inside Waistband (ISW) The ISW is a truly concealed carry holster. Unlike the traditional holster that sits on the outside of the trouser, the ISW is secured to the trouser belt but sits between the trouser and the body. When correctly fitted the only part of the holster that can be seen should be the clips that secure it to the belt. ISW holsters are made of both natural materials, such as leather and shark skin, and modern man made fabrics such as Kydex and Nylon. Although quite comfortable to wear the ISW holster may need to be use with a pair of trousers one size larger than your normal fit. The retention on the handgun whilst in the ISW holster comes from the pressure exerted from the trouser belt. Once the handgun is in the holster the only part of the gun you should see is the grip, the rest of the handgun is hidden inside the trouser.

Outside Waistband (OSW) This is the more traditional carry holster. The holster sits, usually, on the strong side and is secured by a quality belt, via, either, loops or clips secured to the rear or side of the holster. This method of carry is most suited to open carry, although it can be used for CCW in some circumstances. All materials can be used for OSW carry and almost all retention systems are suited to this type of holster.

Cross Draw Holsters are usually OSW holsters that are situated on the weak (opposite to the shooting hand) side. Not many shooters favour this type of draw as the muzzle tends to sweep a large area when being taken from the holster to target. Mainly used for back up guns (BUG) it’s an ideal place to carry secondary weapon.

Kidney This type of carry is suited for all OSW and ISW holsters. The holster is carried in the 1 and 2 o’clock or 10 and

BOOK REVIEW COLT: An American Classic

11 o’clock position on the belt. Not ideal for the larger framed handguns however, this method of carry is ideal for a secondary / back up gun.

Hip This type of carry is the most noticed of all the carry methods. The holster is situated on the hip bone on the strong side. The position of the hip bone itself lends a stable platform for the holster. However this is a preference of choice as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Suited to the OSW holsters it affords quick access and control to the handgun during times of need.

Pancake Holsters are so called because the lay flat along the belt and keep the handgun tight into the body. Usually made of leather the belt passes through two loops either side of the holster. This allows the holster to become close to the body and creates a good retention through friction. These holsters are very popular with open and concealed carry in civilian use.

4 o’clock The 4 o’clock carry sits the holster just behind the hip bone and is suited to both the ISW and OSW holsters. This is a very comfortable position for the holster to be situated. Used with an open jacket the handgun can be out of sight to others around you and also in many cases out of reach from unwanted attention. This natural fit and feel can be a very quick draw and is one of the most popular positions to carry a handgun for protection and defence.

Small of the Back This is not a recommended carry due to the fact that there has been many cases of injury whilst using this method of carry whilst on duty. Suited to OSW carry, operators have sustained back injuries when being taken to the ground during hand to hand fighting. If this method is to be used I would recommend only small frame handguns in this position.

Pocket Holsters are holsters that have been specifically designed to be inserted into the trouser or jacket pocket.

These holsters need to be secured into the pocket with Velcro or by some other secure means to prevent the holster from coming out of the pocket when you draw the handgun. With this holster you are limited to the size of handgun that you can carry. Sub-compact guns of 5.5/6 inch are the maximum size recommended. This is a true CCW method and adds the extra security that you can have your hand on the handgun ready to draw at a moments notice without anyone knowing that you are in stage 1 of the draw. The golden rule here is not to put other items into the same pocket as the handgun.

Drop Leg Holster. The drop leg holster was designed

to free up space and relive weight off the belt. Located and tethered on the outer thigh, the main anchor point is on the belt. This is via either 1 or 2 anchor points. The drop leg holster, if positioned correctly, will allow the handgun to be in direct line and position with the shooting hand when at rest. This method affords ease of access and speed to the draw. Used in many tactical situations the drop leg holster can be used for all handguns from the smallest revolver to the largest framed handgun with room to add tactical lights, spare magazines and even cuffs.

Cargo Pockets are very similar to pocket holsters only cargo pockets tend to have various pockets or sleeves sewn into them. Personally I’m not a great fan as they tend to be uncomfortable and the handgun is not very secure. My duty trousers are fitted with such cargo pockets and I only use them to carry rifle magazines. These are very slow to access due to buttons and Velcro fastenings.

Ankle Holsters are nothing else but CCW holsters that are secured to the inside of your calf. The holster itself is a small, usually leather, holster that rests on the ankle with a supporting band that is wrapped around the upper part of the calf muscle. This upper support aids in stability and security during movement. This method of carry is suited to BUG and carrying small frame handguns. If used to conceal carry your primary weapon, then these little gems are worth their weight in gold when it comes to travelling in vehicles. The ankle holster is ideal when seated in vehicles affording immediate access to the handgun with little fuss. When used to carry a primary weapon the ankle holster needs a lot of practice to gain access when in the standing position, however it’s not impossible.

The above list is just a fraction of what is available on the market today. There are so many gadgets and gizmos that come with new and exciting designs that it makes the mind boggle. I have one simple rule in life, one that the military taught me “keep it simple”. The fewer components a holster has, the less that can go wrong with it, and the easier it will be to maintain and fix in the field. Like all the things that we depend on, especially our lives and the lives of the ones we protect, we must make sure that the holster is the correct type and fit for the handgun, clean at all times and in a serviceable condition. If the holster fails to perform due to neglect then it’s quite possible that you will fail in your attempt to draw the weapon and neutralise the threat.

Holsters, to me, are not an accessory, but rather a part of the handgun itself. When on duty or out with loved ones and carrying a handgun, I don’t want to be carrying it in my hand all the time, that would be impossible. The need for a holster is just as important as the need for a handgun itself. But like making the right choice for the handgun, making the right choice for the holster is just as important. A good handgun in a poor holster becomes a poor handgun in a poor holster and thus poor skills and drill. If you purchase a handgun for protection and defence then I take it you value your life. When you next purchase a holster just stop to think about how much you value your life; your next purchase might just answer that question for you.

For more information on what Calibre Shooting offer please visit www.calibreshooting.co.uk

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SPECIAL REPORT: INTELLIGENCE

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A PRIMER IN INTELLIGENCE Gecko Professional Services is a branch of the German training company, Project Gecko. Formed in April 2016, and their mission is to provide professional security services, consulting, and critical skills training for security, intelligence, and law enforcement professionals.

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ntelligence in Brief; intelligence is an important part of modern warfare and policing in the fight against terrorism, but exactly what it is and how it works is often a mystery to most people. While the word “intelligence” can mean a lot of things, in the context of national power (the Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic, Financial, Intelligence, and Law Enforcement Power of a nation or organization) the word intelligence can be simply defined as information of military or political value and the collection of such information.

THE INTELLIGENCE CYCLE

This intelligence is handled through a cycle which is always ongoing. Useful intelligence must be both accurate and timely, the process to produce this timely and accurate information starts with deciding what information is necessary to make decisions and ends with the processed information handed to leaders in such a format that they can make informed decisions.

While there are several different forms of the intelligence cycle, the most common pieces are: 1. Creating Intelligence Requirements 2. Collection 3. Processing and Exploitation 4. Analysis 5. Dissemination.

Each part of this cycle is constantly ongoing as more intelligence is obtained and more intelligence is required to make additional decisions.

CREATING INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS

Before information can be obtained and eventually handed on to leaders and policy makers as useful intelligence, it must be determined what information is needed. This is often decided based upon previous intelligence because with each new piece of intelligence and the answers that come with it, new questions must be asked to continue to improve strategy and policy as new events occur.

COLLECTION

Once it has been determined what information is needed, it must be collected. There are a variety of methods of intelligence collection which use different types of sources. Some of the

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most common methods are HUMINT, SIGINT, and OSINT, to the untrained eye those look like confusing acronyms but to the intelligence professional they are simply different disciplines of intelligence collection.

HUMINT, or human intelligence, is any information obtained from human sources. This can mean information obtained from interviewing a person or information obtained from someone specifically recruited to pass along information they have unique access to.

SIGINT, or signals intelligence, is information obtained from communication through electronic means as well as information that can be collected from detecting the signals of different types of electronic equipment.

OSINT, or open source intelligence, is information obtained from sources that aren’t meant to be secret. This can mean reading a newspaper, studying a research paper, or watching an interview. It is an often underrated form of intelligence which can produce situation summaries, support information obtained from other sources, or track ongoing events.

There are many other disciplines of intelligence as well, each kind is unique in what kind of information it collects and how it collects this information. Each type of intelligence also has different uses and is processed and then analysed in different ways.

PROCESSING AND EXPLOITATION

Once information is collected, it must be turned into a format that can be read and understood. This can mean decrypting encrypted computer files, translating a piece of information from a foreign language, and putting data into charts, graphs, or figures that are easier to use. This part of the intelligence cycle prepares the information that has been collected to be analysed.

ANALYSIS

This is the point at which information becomes real intelligence.

The amount of information collected from the various types of intelligence can be massive and not all of it is always accurate.

It becomes the job of an analyst to prioritize the information and put pieces together in order to determine what the facts of a situation are. While nothing in intelligence is 100% certain,

DISSEMINATION

When a policy maker, whether it is a politician or military leader, needs information, they wait for the intelligence cycle to be complete so they can obtain the intelligence product and make decisions based upon the timely and accurate information it contains. Once this intelligence is understood, new questions will be asked by policy makers who must prepare for their next decisions. These questions will take the form of new intelligence requirements and once these are created, the process will begin again.

While that is how the cycle works for each individual intelligence requirement, the entire process is always ongoing.

Intelligence is always required, collected, and analysed so that policy makers can make decisions.

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence is an important tool for all kinds of organizations ranging from governments to international groups to private companies. It is handled by vast and secretive organisations such as the CIA, SIS, BND, DGSE, SVR, and MSS. Every country has some type of intelligence service and many have multiple services, in the United States, for example, there are 16 individual agencies that make up its Intelligence Community as well as many more organisations that provide support.

The actual reason to why this is necessary may not be clear to everyone though, in his book “Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy” former Assistant Director of the CIA Mark Lowenthal goes through the purposes of having major intelligence services. “To avoid strategic surprise” an intelligence service must constantly collect information and create intelligence products to know about the intentions and plans of their enemies, and sometimes even their friends. At its core, the goal of an intelligence service is to not be surprised by events that affect the country or organization they support. “To provide long-term expertise,” over time politicians and their staff will come and go.

Qualified experts who follow world events and the issues of foreign countries and organizations over time will be the best collectors and analysts of intelligence, to ensure they can do this

SPECIAL REPORT: INTELLIGENCE

a skilled analyst can put together information in such a way that the probability of drawing the right conclusions is very high.

Each type of intelligence collection has some specific analytical techniques that go along with it as well as techniques that can be used across multiple types of sources. Once analysis is complete, a report is made to fulfil the specific needs of leaders and policy makers. This final report is known as the intelligence product and once it is complete it is used inform those who need to make decisions relevant to the intelligence.

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SPECIAL REPORT: INTELLIGENCE

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and do it well it is necessary to have a dedicated professional intelligence service. “To support the policy process,” an intelligence service must be kept as free of politics as possible so they can provide impartial intelligence products regarding the intelligence requirements of the policy makers they must support. “To maintain the secrecy of information, needs, and methods,” secrecy is a unique aspect to intelligence work since the first three points Lowenthal makes could also be a part of other government organizations. Keeping the information collected by intelligence services, their intelligence requirements, and the ways they collect intelligence a secret is vital to ensuring these services are effective. This is because if this information is not a secret, adversaries are able to adapt their actions to what the intelligence service knows.

A safe and secure society requires effective intelligence services that are professional, trustworthy, and regulated in such a way that they are able to do their job without taking away from the rights and freedoms associated with an open society. Gecko Professional Services will provide future writings on the various types of intelligence and other topics within the realm of security and terrorism.

For more information on Gecko Professional Services, read our other articles or contact us so we may provide a capabilities overview of our consulting, training, and critical skills services.

PMCI would sincerely like to thank the Gecko Professional Services team for allowing us to share this article with you.

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They work to educate the public so they too can better understand the work of those who keep them safe as well as how they can take responsibility for their own security. For more articles like this one, please visit projectgecko.info/gps.

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13 HOURS; THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

MEDIA Review

Every so often there’s a movie that comes along which really makes you sit up and take notice when it comes to recreating the “fog of war” Recently released on DVD in the UK “13 Hours; The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” tells the story of the fateful incidents leading up to the death of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in 2012, and what happened immediately following the attack on his compound in Benghazi.

After the 2011 civil war in Libya and the execution of Muammar Gaddafi, Benghazi became one of the most dangerous and violent places in the world, forcing the USA to pull out all their assets, all except for a CIA base called The Annex, which was protected by a team of CIA contractors, the Global Response Staff (GRS).

From there the GRS team visited the Special Mission compound where the U.S. Ambassador to Libya was staying and they proved to be less than impressed by both the compound itself and the Secret Service agents tasked with his protection; alongside the Agents were a rag-tag detachment of local militia and police.

On the morning of September 11th 2012, Stevens noticed some suspicious men around the compound taking pictures, prompting him to notify his security detail; no real action was taken at this point. That night, a large team of rebels stormed the compound and the Libyan guards on the outside either ran away or were mown down. The rebels fired off AKs and RPGs and invaded the compound as Stevens was rushed into a “panic room”. The GRS Team at The Annex were informed of the attack and wanted to head out to help, but the CIA Chief refused to send them out for fear that The Annex would be left defenceless. The team disregarded their orders and headed over to the Special Mission compound. After a vicious running firefight and unable to secure the Ambassador the team headed back to The Annex and were pursued by the rebel fighters, under fire the entre way…

To find out what happens to the six courageous warfighters next, and rest assured that it is quite something, I’d urge you to go and buy the DVD or pay to download or view online; not since the classic “Black Hawk Down” and “Lone Survivor” has a military-themed movie gripped me with such intensity. To say the action is unremitting would be a massive understatement, but it’s really the way that the GRS Team operate that makes this stand out from other contractor movies; by and large their combat skills are exemplary, the way they use their weapons is spot on, and believe me when I tell you that their gear and the way they wear it is absolutely correct. Yes, there are a few “movie moments” and the use of certain more modern “Gucci” M4s in 2012 is questionable, but overall this is a war movie that totally belongs in any collection.

Director: Michael Bay Language: English Subtitles: English, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.40:1 DVD Release Date: 13 Jun. 2016 Run Time: 138 minutes For more information please do pay a visit to www.thirteenhoursmovie.com

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Advanced Security Protection

Blackstone Consultancy

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http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com;

AKE Group

Blue Hackle

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http://www.bluehackle.com/

Ambrey Risk

Blue Waters Partners Global

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http://www.preparedex.com/

Antipirates.Org

BP Global

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http://www.bp.com/

APPDS

Britam Defence

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Aquatic Marine Ltd

British Maritime Solutions

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http://britishmaritimesolutions.com

Protect Asia Group

BW Offshore

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http://www.bwoffshore.com/

Secopex

Calibre International Security

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http://www.calibre-international.com/

Aspida

Chilport

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http://www.chilport.co.uk/

Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management

Chiron Resources

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http://www.chironresources.com

Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions

Clearwater Special Projects

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http://www.bodyguarding.co.uk/

Bechtel Corporation

Control Risks

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Black Pearl

Decatur Maritime Security

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Drum Cussac

Hudson Trident

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Dryad Maritime

ICTS

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Edinburgh International

IMSA Ltd

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Elite Maritime Protection Services

International Executive Recruiting

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EOS Risk Management

International Maritime Security

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Erus Maritime

International Maritime Security

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Espada

International Security Network

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http://www.isn.eu.com

Ex Military Recruitment

ISC Gulf

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Exploration Logistics Group

ISSG Sea Marshalls

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http://www.issg-seamarshals.com/

G4S Maritime

Janusian Risk Advisory Group

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http://www.riskadvisory.net/

Genesis Security Group http://genesissecurity.com/

Global Executive Outreach http://www.geo-ops.com/

Global Risk Security http://www.globalrisksecurity.co.uk/

Global Solace http://www.solaceglobal.com/

Global Strategies Group http://www.globalgroup.com/

Grail Security http://www.grail.co.za

Halliburton http://www.halliburton.com/en-USage

Halogen Security http://www.halogensecurity.com/

Hart Maritime http://www.hartsecurity.com

Hill & Associates http://www.hillassoc.com

HP TerraMarine International http://www.hpterramarine.com/

Kroll

MUSC

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http://www.sps-global.com

Longmoor Group

Naval Guards

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Lotus Maritime Security

Neptune Security

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Lotus Projects

NNK Group

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Maersk

NYA International

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Magregor Protection Services

Ocean Marshalls

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March Security

Ocean Protective Services

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Maritime Risk International

Oceaneering International

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http://www.oceaneering.com/

Marsec

Olchon

http://www.marsec.eu.com

http://www.olchon.co.uk/

MAST

Olive Group

http://www.mast-commercial.com

http://www.olivegroup.com/

McRoberts Maritime Security

Orchid Security

http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/

http://www.orchid-office.com/

Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre

Oxberry Risk Strategies

http://www.mmwc.org/

http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services

Minimal Risk

Pilgrim Group

http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MSS

Pilgrim Security

http://www.mss-uk.com

http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com

MTResolution

Pistris

http://www.mtresolution.com/

http://www.pistris.com/Index.html

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Protect Asia Group

Securescot

http://www.protectasia.com/

http://www.securescot.com

PVI Ltd

Securewest International

http://www.pviltd.com/

http://www.securewest.com/

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Security Networking Events

http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Red Cell Security

Security Networking Events

http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk

http://snespecialprojects.com/

Redfour-MSS

Securoquest

http://www.redfour-group.com

http://www.securoquest.co.za

Saladin Security Group

Shield Risk Consulting

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/

Saladin Security

Shipguard

http://www.saladin-security.com/

http://www.mss-uk.com

Salama Fikira

SMS

http://www.salamafikira.com/

www.specialistmarineservices.com

SMS

SPS

www.specialistmarineservices.com

http://www.sps-global.com

Tor International

Tactical Intel

http://www.torinternational.com/

http://www.tacticalintel.com/

Trojan Securities International

Thalassic

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Orchid Security

Tor International

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http://www.torinternational.com/

Blackstone Consultancy

Torcuss

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http://www.torcuss.co.za/

Pilgrim Group

Triskle TSL

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http://www.triskelservices.com

Maritime Risk International

Triton Security

http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/

http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com

International Maritime Security

Trojan Securities

http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/

http://www.trojansecurities.com

Raven Special Projects Ltd

Veritas International

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http://www.veritas-international.com/

Salamanca Risk Management http://www.salamancarm.com

Sea Marshalls Ltd UK http://www.seamarshals.com

SEAL http://www.sealsecurity.com/