ZYLON BODY ARMOR CONTROVERSY

WEAPONS, TACTICS & TRAINING FOR THE REAL WORLD

5107

4

HECKLER & KOCHP2000 USMARINES M1511 INTERIM FAST ATTACK VEHICLE

DOWN ONTHE FARM:URBAN RIFLE TRAINING

OLD RIFLE COURSEAT THUNDER RANCH

BUSHMASTERSNEWCARBON 15

JUNE 2004

WIN!WIN! OLYMPIC ARMS PCR-8

800.694.5263

BlackHawk continues to provide the best tactical gearavailable for the dedicated professionals engaged in the Waron Terror and protecting the security of the nation.

No compromise shall be made in quality of materials or workmanship because at BlackHawk failure is not an option.Good enough is not good enough.

We remain committed to those who serve. Well continue tomake the best gear we can. Well be here for you when youneed us. You deserve nothing less.

BLACKHAWK PRODUCTS GROUP

BLACKHAWK PRODUCTS GROUP4850 BROOKSIDE COURT

NORFOLK, VA 23502 U.S.A. 800.694.5263 888.830.2013 FAX

www.blackhawk.com

www.hellstormusa.comwww.hellstormusa.com

HellStorm4850 Brookside Court

Norfolk,Virginia 23502-2052 U.S.A.757.436.3101 (fax)757.436.3088

1.800.694.5263

HellStorm4850 Brookside Court

Norfolk,Virginia 23502-2052 U.S.A.757.436.3101 (fax)757.436.3088

1.800.694.5263

BlackHawk Products Group

See your HellStorm

dealer or call for a FREEcatalog!

See your HellStorm

dealer or call for a FREEcatalog!

Driving Gloves Shooting Gloves HazMat GlovesViral Barrier Gloves Rappelling Gloves Water Operations

Aviation Gloves Assault Gloves Rescue Gloves

Equipping the hands of professionals.Fighting for freedom and justice.

Equipping the hands of professionals.Fighting for freedom and justice.

In use globally by the bestmilitary, law enforcement andpublic safety professionals, theHellStorm line featuresgloves for virtually everytactical mission.

HellStorm accessories provide thebest possible protection and com-fort available to operators in hostileenvironments. Youve trained to bethe best.You deserve the best inprotective gear.

In use globally by the bestmilitary, law enforcement andpublic safety professionals, theHellStorm line featuresgloves for virtually everytactical mission.

HellStorm accessories provide thebest possible protection and com-fort available to operators in hostileenvironments. Youve trained to bethe best.You deserve the best inprotective gear.

The patented Quad Stitching Rings on the index finger increasesgrip and allows the user to custom fit, cut and modify the indexfinger portion of the glove. Cutting in between any one of thefour stitch lines allows the user to remove a portion of theglove to expose the trigger or index finger for more dexterity,better trigger control, better use of the finger for buttons onradios, keypads on GPS units, the list goes on and on.

The patented Quad Stitching Rings on the index finger increasesgrip and allows the user to custom fit, cut and modify the indexfinger portion of the glove. Cutting in between any one of thefour stitch lines allows the user to remove a portion of theglove to expose the trigger or index finger for more dexterity,better trigger control, better use of the finger for buttons onradios, keypads on GPS units, the list goes on and on.

Driving Gloves Shooting Gloves HazMat GlovesViral Barrier Gloves Rappelling Gloves Water Operations

Aviation Gloves Assault Gloves Rescue Gloves

www.swatmag.com

42BUSHMASTERS NEWCARBON 15 RIFLEAn Improvement On The Original?BY MIKE DETTY

IS THERE A STORMON YOUR HORIZON?Berettas Cx4 Storm CarbineBY ROB PINCUS

52HECKLER & KOCH P2000 USInnovative New Service PistolBY EUGENE NIELSEN

56THE M1511 INTERIMFAST ATTACK VEHICLEBY PATRICK A. ROGERS

4 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004

LINEUP24DOWN ON THE FARMUrban Rifle Training In UtahBY LES LANGFORD

SWEEPSTAKES

50

46

WIN AN OLYMPIC ARMS PCR-8!

S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 5www.swatmag.com

CO

LUM

NS

DEPA

RTM

EN

TS

S.W.A.T. (ISSN# 1062-2365) Volume 23, Number 5, June 2004. Published monthly, except February, July and November by Group OneEnterprises, Inc. 5011 North Ocean Blvd., Suite 5, Ocean Ridge, FL 33435. Copyright 2003 by Group One Enterprises, Inc. All rightsreserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. Return postage must accom-pany all manuscripts, drawings, photographs, etc., if they are to be returned, and Group One Enterprises, Inc. assumes no responsibilityfor unsolicited material. All letters sent to S.W.A.T. will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes andare subject to S.W.A.T.s right to edit and comment editorially. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: For subscription customer service, call(800) 673-4595. A one-year subscription is $26.95 (9 issues). Foreign subscriptions add $15.00 U.S. funds. Back issues are $8 each,postage and taxes included. (California and Ohio add applicable sales tax.) These prices represent S.W.A.T.s standard subscription rateand should not be confused with special subscription offers sometimes advertised. Change of address: Allow six weeks advance noticeand send in both your old and new addresses. ATTN POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: S.W.A.T. Magazine, PO Box 16207, NorthHollywood, CA 91615. Periodicals postage is paid at Boynton Beach, FL and additional mailing offices. S.W.A.T. is registered in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office by Group One Enterprises, Inc. Printed in the USA.

6BRIEFING ROOMFirearms SafetyBY DENNY HANSEN

16UP CLOSE AND PERSONALTraining And The Element Of SurpriseBY JEFF GONZALES

20ENEMY AT THE GATEThe Gun Control Experiment: The Three-Time LoserBY RICHARD W. STEVENS

30STREET SMARTSThe Best Place To Get In TroubleBY BRENT WHEAT

98TRAINING AND TACTICSThe Chemical CocktailBY LOUIS AWERBUCK

8MAIL ROOMLetters From Our Readers

12LAWFUL CARRYBlade-Tech Holsters And AccessoriesBY FLINT HANSEN

34LONG GUNSDont Underestimate The UziBY LEROY THOMPSON

38THE SKUNK WORKSBlackhawk Hellstorm Tactical GlovesBY EUGENE NIELSEN

88THE CUTTING EDGEHeckler & Koch CQC-10 KnifeBY EUGENE NIELSEN

90OFFBEATDPMS .22 Conversion KitSTAFF REPORT

92TRAINING CALENDAR

94GEAR LOCKERNew Products And Accessories

97ADVERTISERS INFO

62DANNERS DESERTARCADIA 8BOOTSKeep Your Dogs From BarkingBY DENNY HANSEN

THUNDER RANCHOLD RIFLE COURSEJust For The Fun Of ItBY ASHLEY EMERSON

68BODY ARMORAn Objective Look At The Zylon ControversyBY KEN CAMPBELL

74TAC PRO SHOOTINGCENTERS THREE-GUN RUN MATCHBY WILL COX

78SHOOTINGTHROUGH GLASSNot As Easy As It SeemsBY GREG RODRIGUEZ

82FIRST RESPONDERTRAUMA GEARBY PAUL MARKEL

84THE KRAG RIFLEA Quantum Leap ForwardBY CLINT SMITH

64

6 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

THE

TEAMPUBLISHER

Richard J. Lucibella

EDITORDenny Hansen

PRODUCTION DIRECTORKathleen Allard

ART DIRECTORBetty Wendt

COPY EDITORDennis Bateman

TACTICAL CONSULTANTLouis Awerbuck

LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSULTANTBrent Wheat

TRAINING CONSULTANTRob Pincus

CONTRIBUTING STAFFR.K. Campbell , Ashley C. Emerson

David Fortier, Jeff GonzalesFlint Hansen, Steve Malloy

Tiger McKee, Eitan Meyr Eugene Nielsen, Patrick A. Rogers Clint Smith, Richard W. Stevens

Leroy Thompson

CIRCULATION DIRECTORRichard Convertito

FINANCE DIRECTORJoel Marcus, CPA

WEBSITE TECHNOLOGYJustin Guyett

ADVERTISING SALESphone: 800-665-SWAT

email: advertise@swatmag.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS INFORMATIONR.J. Swircz

800-673-4595

SWATMAG.COM

DISCLAIMERCertain products represented in this magazine may be subject to prohibitions, restrictions or special licensingfor sale, possession or interstate transport. If this annoys you, Get Involved...support the Bill of Rights...all ofthem! In the meantime, check with local and federal authorities regarding legality of purchase, possession andtransport. The information described and portrayed in this magazine is based upon personal experience of theauthor, under specific conditions and circumstances. Due to time and space constraints, the entire authorsexperience may not be reported or otherwise verified. Nothing in these pages should be construed to substitutefor a manufacturers manual or for professional firearms training. This magazine, its officers, agents andemployees accept no responsibility for any liability, injuries or damages arising from any persons attempt torely upon the information contained herein. Responsible shooters always seek formal training.

EDITORIALINFORMATIONFor editorial submissions, pressreleases or questions, contact theeditor at:3025 N. Valley View Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 or by email at:editor@swatmag.com

BRIEFING ROOMFIREARMS SAFETY

Please bear with me while I preach to the choir. There are four rules of firearms safetythat can never be overlooked. Period.ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.

NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARENOT WILLING TO DESTROY.

KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.

BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND.

On Wednesday, March 10, a student attending a course at one of the better knownfirearms academies killed his best friend and classmate while dry firing in their motelroom after class. I wont name the school because they are in no way responsible for thetragedy that did not occur while under the schools supervision. I wont name theshooter or the victim because it would serve no purpose here.

What I will say, is that this incident was caused by neglecting at least two andprobably all four of the Golden Rules: ammo somehow found its way into anunloaded firearm, and the shooter covered something that he was not willing todestroy.

Although the victim and his friend were fairly new to shooting, they wereperforming very well in the class. In a moment of negligence, one was killed and theother must live with what he did for the rest of his life. As this is written, the CountyAttorney is considering bringing charges.

Ingrain the above four rules into your subconscious. Make gun safety something youthink about every time you pick up a firearm. Dont be the next victim. Dont be the nextperson to be charged with negligent manslaughter.

*****On March 31, 2004, four civilian contractors working for Blackwater Security

Consulting were killed in an unprovoked attack in the Fallujah area in Iraq. At the timeof the attack, the operators were providing convoy security for food deliveries in thearea.

We are diminished by their loss, and our prayers go out to the victims loved ones.Blackwater advised that the names of the victims will not be released out of respect fortheir families.

A Memorial Fund has been established to support the victim's families of the March31, 2004 Fallujah attack. All memorial gifts will be documented and appropriatelyacknowledged with due regard to the wishes of the donor and the nature of thecontribution. Please mail the contributions to:

Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 159 Moyock, NC 27958Please Make checks Payable to: Memorial Fund. Please, no cash contributions.Until next time, stay low and watch your back.

THE ARTICLE NAME

JOB SATISFACTION?Dear S.W.A.T.,

I have some comments to addressabout the article Job Satisfaction, OrJust Following Orders? by RichardW. Stevens in the March 2004 issue.

Working as a squad Sergeant at afairly busy airport, I have contactwith Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA) personnelon a daily basis. My fellow read-ers may need to have some thingsabout TSA screeners clarified.They are not officers. They haveno powers to enforce anythingother than screening passengersand their luggage. To fly at thispoint in time has turned into amatter of implied consent.When you purchase that ticketyou agree to be screened. Youagree not to possess anybanned items. You either sub-mit or take the bus.

I dont totally agree withtheir procedures, but for thecommon good, again at thispoint in time, its probably forthe best. Passengers are still

carrying weapons and other forbiddenitems in their carry-ons and checkedbaggage.

I dont agree with the way the lawenforcement agency handled Mr. Socha.I feel that the issue was between Mr.Socha and the TSA.

Other than that, good article and themagazine is a good readand a goodtraining vehicle.Thanks for your time,Sgt. T. Murphy,RDU International Airport Police

Thank you for sharing your personal andprofessional insights into the screeningprocess at airports. As a former law enforce-ment officer I share your thoughts thatwhen passengers arrive at the gate theyhave entered into an implied consentagreement with the airline. This is informa-tion the public should probably realize andthink about before flying.

As a private citizen, however, its a bitterpill to swallow when I see some TSA per-sonneladmittedly in the minorityactingbadge heavy and abusing their perceivedauthority.Denny Hansen

MAIL ROOM8 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

X-treme POWER...125 PEAK LUMENS, 1 HOUR RUN TIME

X-treme RELIABILITY...SHOCK SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, WATER TIGHT TO 20 METERS

X-treme COMPATIBILITY... PATENTED SLIDE-LOCK OR RAIL-GRABBER INTERFACE

Get the Advantageinsightlights.com 877.744.4802

Manufactured by the foremost supplier of tactical lasers and illuminators to the U.S. Special Operations Forces.

10 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

MAIL ROOM

DRUG ENFORCEMENTADMINISTRATION

Dear S.W.A.T.,I just finished reading the article by

Denny Hansen in the March 2004 issueabout the Rock River Arms DEA Con-tract Rifle. Let me correct Mr. Hansensopening sentence, it is the DrugEnforcement Administration, notAgency.C. Soltys, email

Hang on just a minuteI have to wipethe egg off my face.

I knew better than that, but somehowmissed it through the numerous proofingstages. I did notice it soon as it appeared inprint, however. Thanks for pointing it out,and my sincere apologies to anyone I mayhave offended.Denny Hansen

FINDING S.W.A.T.Dear S.W.A.T.,

I would like to know if your maga-zine is sold in the United Kingdom,and what is the full name of your mag-azine.Thank you for your time.H.G., email

The name of the magazine is S.W.A.T. Itis not available in the United Kingdom, butis available in Puerto Rico, Nassau,Guyana, Aruba, Jamaica, Austria, France,Finland, Spain, Sweden, Australia, Tai-wan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealandand the Philippines. In the UK, you maywant to try our PDF downloads availablefrom our website (www.swatmag.com).

RIGHT BRAIN, LEFT-BRAIN GUNFIGHTING?

Dear S.W.A.T.,I hope you can help to settle a friend-

ly dispute I have with a shootingbuddy. He is right-handed and I amleft-handed. I always shoot more accu-rately and faster than he does. I believeit is because Im left-handed, and Ipoint out that at least one great gun-fighter, Billy the Kid (real name BillyBonney), was also left-handed. I wouldappreciate any light you can shed onthis to back up my argument.T. Allarg, Colorado

To begin with, the Kids real name wasHenry McCarty. Billy Bonney was an aliasas was The Kid, Kid Antrim andWilliam H. Bonney.

Your impression that he was a southpawis probably gleaned from looking at the

famous tintype photo of him, which showshim wearing a revolver on his left hip andholding a Winchester at his side. If you canget a good, clean copy of this print, lookclosely at the loading gate on the Winches-terits on the left side of the receiver. Allloading gates on all Winchester rifles areactually on the right side. The print mostpeople have seen was actually flipped. Itstands to reason that Hollywood typesi.e. the movie The Left-Handed Gun withPaul Newmandid not know a lot aboutfirearms and simply did not notice the dis-crepancy. Some say McCarty was ambidex-trous, but there is no way of knowing that.What we do know, is that he was not strict-ly left-handed.

And so, while we congratulate you onyour shooting ability, it has probably beenachieved through a lot of hard training andpracticenot because you are wrong-handed. Keep working on it though, asnone of us ever achieve the skill we wouldlike to have.

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

Dear S.W.A.T.,I recently read Have You Got What It

Takes? taken from the March 2004edition of your magazine regardingESI's training.

I'm interested in obtaining all yourmagazines with articles relating to ESI'sAdvanced Executive Protectionprogram. Could you tell me whichissues I need to download? When Iused your search for "ESI", I only foundone issue listed.Thanks!S. Rhodes, email

The series on ESI ran in four parts. Theschool was covered in the Dec. '03, May'03, Oct. '03 and the March 2004 issues.All are available for download from theS.W.A.T. website.

HONEST APPRAISAL?Dear S.W.A.T.,

I enjoy reading your magazine due tothe balanced articles on training, tactics,and firearms. Having been involved infirearms training, one thing I wastaught is always try a new techniqueand look at it objectively from both

sides. Ashley Emerson's article on theSpringfield SOCOM 16 states that thegun came equipped with a "turd" of asight. He is entitled to his opinion and Icontinued reading waiting for him toexplain the limitations of the sightingsystem. I could find no justification inthe rest of the article and will have toassume his range session wasconducted only for accuracy with theLeupold 2X Scout Scope.

In the same issue Paul Markel'sarticle on the G3 equipped with thesame sighting system is given a fair andhonest appraisal on the range. That isall a reader or manufacturer can askfrom a magazine.

As an XS Sight distributor andadjunct instructor I have numeroushandguns and long guns equippedwith XS Sights Big Dot Tritium sights. Iinstalled them knowing I was striking abalance between accuracy and speed.

I look forward to future issues ofyour magazine and hope you can find abalance between opinion and fact inyour articles!J. Motil, email

Thanks for taking the time to share yourthoughts. We value feedback from ourreaders.

I believe Mr. Emerson did justify hisremarks in that he believes the combinationof a dot sight front sight and small rearaperture do not give the optimum sightingplatform.

It just so happens that I was at Gunsiteattending the XS Sights TacticalRoundtable along with Paul Markel andother writers. At ranges around 200 yards,I would personally have to agree withAshley and not Paul on the usefulness ofthe front dot. Some of the writers agreedwith Paul, some agreed with me. Everyoneis entitled to their own opinions.

For what it's worth, I have XS Big Dotsights on five handguns, theirexcellent ghost ring and whitestripe front sight on twoshotguns, and their superbsame-plane rear sight apertureand white-line front stripe withtritium inserts on two ARs.

Many of the S.W.A.T. Staff have similarsetups. To say that we believe in the qualityof XS sights would be a hugeunderstatement. The fact that Ashley didnot find the dot front sight on a particularrifle to his liking should be construed as hishonest opinionnot an indictment of XSSights in general.Denny Hansen

Springfield SOCOM 16.

GE

RB

ER

GE

AR

.CO

MGERBER MP 800 LEGEND. YOURE A FIREFIGHTER,

NOT A PENCIL PUSHER. WHICH MEANS YOU NEED

TOOLS YOU CAN COUNT ON. LIKE THE MULTI-PLIER

800. ITS CARBIDE CUTTERS CAN CUT THROUGH

GALVANIZED CEILING WIRE. AFTER ALL, ITS YOUR

COURAGE, BRAVERY AND ABILITY TO OVERCOME

ALL OBSTACLES THAT MAKES KIDS LOOK UP TO YOU.

2

003

Ger

ber

Lege

ndar

y Bl

ades

, a F

iska

rs B

rand

s Co

mpa

ny

12 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

THE ARTICLE NAME

Apistol is only as good as the hol-ster its carried in, and either isonly as good as the operator.The perfect shot does not happen

when the trigger is pressed and thesights are alignedit begins in the hol-ster with a good firing grip. Do notthink of a shooter, pistol, a sturdy belt,ancillary equipment and a quality hol-ster as separate entities, but rather as acomplete weapons system.

I recently received several productsfrom Blade-Tech to help make up partof that system. The products includ-ed three different styles of holsters for a1911-type pistol and three types of mag-azine pouches. All items were made ofKydex.

Each of the holsters featured twintension screws that allow the shooter toset how much retention he desires. Allof the products evaluated come in sev-eral colors, including carbon fiber,desert, stealth black, tactical black, tanand olive drab. Belt loops for each piececan be ordered to match your presentbelt and range in sizes from 1.25-inch to2.25 inch.

The first holster was a standard beltholster. Although available with differ-ent cants, our specimen was the

straight-drop type. This holster has aspeed cut and the mouth of the holsteris slightly flared for ease of presentationand reholstering. Twin tension screwsallow for precise retention adjustment.It came with two removable rubbershims which allow it to be attached to1.25, 1.5 and 1.75-inch belts dependingon which shim, if any, is removed. Veryfast, this is a good choice for those whoprefer an outside the waistband holster.

The next holster was an inside thewaistband (IWB) designmy personalfavorite for concealed carry. It is avail-able with J hooks for belts ranging inwidth from 1.25 to 2.25 inches, or loopsthat attach to the belt with pull-the-dotsnapseither of which allow for easyon and off. The model tested came withthe loops/snaps attachment method.The holster has a protective panel,sometimes called a flab tab, to pre-vent a garment from interfering withthe drawstroke. This design also keepsperspiration off your handgun. The hol-ster has the ability to adjust the cantfrom FBI to straight drop. I found theIWB offered the all-important firm fir-ing grip to be obtained while the pistolwas still in the holster.

The last holster received for evalua-

tion was Blade-Techs tactical thigh hol-ster. This holster comes with anadjustable drop loop attachment, andtwo adjustable thigh straps with elasticinserts for greater comfort. I found thatthe injection molded polymer thighplate made the rig very comfortablewhile wearing it for long periods oftime. The plate was slightly flexible, yetstrong enough for great support. Thisholster also featured a thumb break.The portion of the thumb that goes overthe pistols slide is made of a neo-prene/rubber-type material and can besnapped out of the way onto the bodyof the holster if necessary.

The first magazine carrier evaluatedwas of the single mag design. Like theholsters, it featured two tension screws.This magazine carrier also came withBlade-Techs Tek-Lok belt attachmentwhich allows easy on/off, but can notbe accidentally removed. This is a greataccessory for those who feel the need tohave only a single reload on theirperson.

The dual magazine pouch sportedthe same overall low profile design asthe single mag pouch, but with a singletension adjustment screw centeredbetween the two magazine compart-

LAWFUL CARRY

BLADE-TECHHOLSTERS AND ACCESSORIESBY FLINT HANSEN

Blade-Techs tactical thighholster is shown here withKimber s TLE/RL with anInsight Technology M3X tac-tical illuminator attached.The trio makes a great combi-nation for those who need apistol with a light attached.

The two conventional hol-stersan IWB and a straightdrop belt rig.

HydraStorm4850 Brookside Court

Norfolk, Virginia 23502-2052U.S.A.

757-436-3101 (fax)757-436-3088

1-800-694-5263

HydraStorm4850 Brookside Court

Norfolk, Virginia 23502-2052U.S.A.

757-436-3101 (fax)757-436-3088

1-800-694-5263

www.hyd rastorm.comwww.hyd rastorm.com

BlackHawk Products Group

CycloneCyclone

MatrixMatrix

TsunamiTsunami

Torrent ExtremeTorrent Extreme

Tidal RaveTidal Rave

Designed by operators and built towithstand any field conditions. From thedeserts of the Middle East, the junglesof Asia and South America to the Arcticwilderness, HydraStorm is in use bythe worlds best military units andpublic safety professionals. Offeringrugged durability, comfort, versatilityand easy access to clean, cool drinkingwater, HydraStorm is crucial tomission success. HydraStorm offers afull range of systems from stand aloneunits to full size packs.

Designed by operators and built towithstand any field conditions. From thedeserts of the Middle East, the junglesof Asia and South America to the Arcticwilderness, HydraStorm is in use bythe worlds best military units andpublic safety professionals. Offeringrugged durability, comfort, versatilityand easy access to clean, cool drinkingwater, HydraStorm is crucial tomission success. HydraStorm offers afull range of systems from stand aloneunits to full size packs.

The HydraStorm Gas MaskAdapter Kit is the only protectivemask hydration system testedand used in OC/CS/CNenvironments.

The HydraStorm Gas MaskAdapter Kit is the only protectivemask hydration system testedand used in OC/CS/CNenvironments.

LAWFUL CARRY

ments. This pouch came with a solidbelt loop and two removable rubbershims allowing it to be worn with beltsfrom 1.25 to 1.75 inch wide. Unlike thesingle mag pouch, the double has drainholes at the bottom of each pouch.Spare magazines were held securely,yet lightning fast speed loads could stillbe performed.

The last item received was a singlecarrier for a thirty-round AR-15 maga-zine. This is a great accessory for some-one who wants the capability of areload, but does not need to be com-pletely jocked up in full tactical gear.This pouch has two tension adjustmentscrews, and comes with the Tek-Lokbelt attachment. The design properlyplaces the tips of the bullets facing for-ward. Although I only worked with itin a casual range setting, I think thispouch would also work well for generaltactical use. I have been told that thispouch has become a favorite with someshooters attending Gunsite carbinecourses.

All of Blade-Techs accessories can bemade for a wide variety of firearms. Forexample, the rifle pouch is available not

Blade-Tech has been around formany years, and a company only lastsin this business one wayby providinga quality product at a reasonable price.Blade-Tech does just that.

SOURCE:Blade-TechDept. S.W.A.T.2506 104th Street Court S., Suite ATacoma, WA 98499(253) 581-4347

The single carbinemagazine pouch is

also available for theSteyr AUG, AK-47

and MP5.

Blade-Techs Tek-Lok. When thelock is inserted into the slots itmakes it all but impossible for gearto come off, but once removed theedges are squeezed together and the14 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

only for the AR-15/M16, but can alsobe had for the Steyr AUG, AK-47 andMP5.

belt loop hinges downward allow-ing easy removal.

THE ARTICLE NAME

The ultimate goal of timing is tomaximize the element of surprisein order to affect a successful out-come from a potentially dangerous situ-ation. Delving deeper we will find thereis more to it than just surprising youropponent. Deception keeps the oppo-nent in a neutral positionneutral in thesense they feel in charge. If they feel incharge they may become complacentand make a mistake. Distraction pro-vides the opportunity to act by takingadvantage of the reactionary gap. Totruly turn the tide and gain the upperhand it will begin with a diversion ofsome sort. Diversion leads to ourresponse which is shrouded in sur-prisethe element that produces suc-cess. They have to perceive and analyzethe change in events transpiring in theblink of an eye. By that time it is hope-fully too late for them to do anything.

The crux of this will be timing the deliv-ery of your response at the most oppor-tune moment.

When forced into a bad situation,compliance can buy you precious sec-onds to assess your situation. From thereyou can develop a plan that will ulti-mately lead you to safety. Part of execut-ing that plan will be keeping your oppo-nent comfortable while you attempt togain the tactical advantage. The morecomfortable they are the less likely theywill act prematurely. If you can some-how make them feel like everything isgoing their way then they potentiallylower their guard. Better yet, they arecaught off guard. Slowing your actionsso they seem deliberate can display thewillingness to cooperate, which to theopponent reinforces that status quomentioned above. So the key and thefirst part to your plan is to deceive your

opponent in order to maneuver yourselfto a position of advantage. An exampleof this would be Tony Blauer's use ofNon-Violent Postures (NVP), whichallow you to comply while at the sametime provide you with a platform tolaunch your counterattack withoutwarning. In essence you appear to sur-render control only to ensure you gaincontrol through deception.

Keeping your opponent occupied byfollowing their instructions can be a pre-cursor to your distraction. If they feelyou are complying, will they be moreinclined to act aggressively or will theyfeel more comfortable because you aredoing what they ask? Your distractionmust flow along with your guise (thedeception) so it looks natural or compli-ant. The more benign your actions up tothat point, the greater effect your distrac-tion will have. The distraction you

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

TRAINING AND THEELEMENT OF SURPRISE

BY JEFF GONZALES16 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

Tactical Accessory Systems

1300 B-3 Industrial Hwy, Southampton, PA 18966

TEL: (215) 322-9227 24 hr FAX: (215) 322-9223

Email: info@firstsamco.comWWW.FIRSTSAMCO.COM

Combat-Tested HandguardSystems and Accessories

for the AR15 and M16.First Samco introduces its NEW popular priced M44 handguard

system for the AR15/M16 series of rifles and carbines. The M44 isa unique FOUR SIDED Picatinny rail system that is an integral

part of the handguard that offers unlimited mounting optionsand no gunsmithing or fitting.

A complete line of accessories from First Samco including vertical grips, bipodadapter, and flashlight mounts are available. Weaver or Picatinny accessories

will mount easily and quickly on the M44 system. Life Time Warranty.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

choose may be initiated by you or maybe outside of your control. For instance,tossing your keys as you deliver a faceslap is an example of something youcontrol. A bolt of lightening striking afew feet away is out of your control, butcan be used as a distraction if yourmindset is switched on. Of course thereare plenty of other examples, but I thinkyou understand what I am trying to say.Whatever distraction you employ yourcounterattack must take advantage ofthe confusion and reactionary gap youcreated. Optimally the method of dis-traction will be integrated into yourcounterattack in some way.

The precise moment to initiate yourcounterattack is a small window ofopportunity. Here is where timingcomes into playit can quite literallysave you or seal your fate. You have totime your actions to gain the most bene-fit from them. Too soon and it is going tobe ineffective, too late and it will be inef-fective. Timing is part of the fog createdby your deception and distraction. Onlywhen properly timed can your actionsbe concealed in that fog. If you don'ttime your actions properly they will notbe obscured and the opponent will be

able to react. The success of your coun-terattack will largely depend on yourability to capitalize on the reactionarygap created by the distraction or howwell timed you took action. When tim-ing is properly exploited your opponentwill be faced with the brunt of yourplan, the culmination of your deception,your properly timed distraction andthen the violent surprise of your coun-terattack.

Once the element of surprise has beenachieved your response must be quickand aggressive. You will have torespond using speedyour actionsmust be quick and without hesitation.You cannot afford to dither here, other-wise the small window the element ofsurprise created will close. Something assimple as running away as fast as youcan the moment that window is opencould be enough. You will have to beaggressive in your actions. You cannotexpect to succeed if you marginallyattempt something. You must be totallycommitted in order to be truly success-ful. If you can maximize the element ofsurprise you will be able to strike youropponents several times before they arecompletely aware of your counterattack

and by that time they will possibly beunable to continue their action or stopyour counterattack. If you can utilizespeed and aggression after surprisingyour opponent you will have a muchhigher chance of success.

As we all know, we ourselves can besurprised or caught off guard. While wecould dwell on that matter, it is far betterto accept it and have a plan for "what if."If you do find yourself in a dangeroussituation, time will be short so you willhave to extend that time frame as muchas possible while at the same time com-plying with your opponentall thewhile assessing and developing a planof which the goal will be break contact,gain distance, place an obstacle betweenyou and your opponent and finallyescape. You will have to use patiencewhen complying while you assess yoursituation. Your distraction must be cre-ative and timed to gain maximum bene-fit. Your counterattack will have the ele-ment of surprise and a high likelihood ofsuccess as long as it is timed with yourdistraction.

Ultimately, it will be your ability toproperly time the above said compo-nents that truly leads to success. 18 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

0304

s i n c e 1 9 5 3w w w . s t r e i c h e r s . c o m8 0 0 . 3 6 7 . 3 7 6 3

heroism in everyday duty...

DANNER STRIKER 45DAN-R45GTX $129.95

FIRST DEFENSE MK-3 DT-MKIII.FD $12.95

FOBUS HOLSTER FOB-XXX $21.95

STREET PATROL DUTY BAGNG-8894.3 $39.95

HEAT GEARUA-39 $24.95

MAGNUM STORMHIT-5142 $99.95

STREAMLIGHT SCORPIONSL-SCORPION $39.95

SUREFIRE 6PLP-6P $79.95

L&O March(7 x 4.875).indd 1 2/23/04 11:05:40 AM

Name

Address

City/State/Zip Phone#

Payment Enclosed Charge My: VISA MasterCard

Bill Me Discover American Express

Credit Card # Exp.

SignatureMail to: S.W.A.T. P.O. Box 16207, North Hollywood, CA 91615-9473

MONEY BACK ON UNMAILED ISSUES IF NOT SATISFIED! Foreign add $15 per year, U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. YOUR FIRST ISSUE WILL ARRIVE IN 6

TO 8 WEEKS. Where applicable, sales tax is included in stated price. *Cover price: $4.99.BET00

( )

Start or extend my one year/9 issue S.W.A.T. subscription foronly $26.95 & Ill save 40% off the newsstand price

Sign me up for two years/18 issues of S.W.A.T. for only$49.95 to save even more

Maximum savings: Sign me up for three years/27 issues ofS.W.A.T. for only $69.99

Subscribe and save 40% offthe newsstand price only$26.95* for a full year (9issues)! Save even more bysubscribing for two years 18 issues for $49.95*

STILL THE SAMELOW PRICE!

MORE PAGES! ACTION!MORE

3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT SWATMAG.COM

CALL TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-673-4595 MAIL THE POSTAGE-PAID CARD

MORE S.W.A.T.SAME LOW SUBSCRIBER PRICE!S.W.A.T. continues to expand and upgrade without sacrificing anyof the quality you've come to expect from the finest firearmspublication on the newsstand. Subscribe now and every action-packed issue will be delivered to your doorstep AND you'll stillsave 40% off the newsstand price. Future issues of S.W.A.T. willcontinue to bring its readers the finest in:

Firearms and Accessories T&Es - no puff pieces! Training and Tactics for Personal Defense Armed and Unarmed Combat Specialized Unit Exclusives First Responder Issues Second Amendment and Bill of Rights Issues

NOW!

Subscribe and save 40% offthe newsstand price only$26.95* for a full year (9issues)! Save even more bysubscribing for two years 18 issues for $49.95*

*off the annual cover price

20 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

THE ARTICLE NAME

The anti-gun folks told us,and keep telling us, thatwe need more gun con-trol laws to create a safersociety. Right. Have any ofthese laws worked?

More specifically, have rigidgun control laws reduced vio-lent crime? Good places tocheck would be countries thathave imposed comprehensivegun and owner regulation andthat also share our commonpolitical and legal heritage:Canada, England and Australia.

The data are in. Dr. Gary A. Mauser, aprofessor at Simon Fraser University inBritish Columbia, studied the results ofthe gun control laws in all three nationsand published his findings in November2003. His conclusion: disarming thepublic has not reduced criminal violencein any country examined here ... In allcases, disarming the public has beenineffective, expensive, and often count-er-productive.

ENGLAND: ROCKETING CRIME WAVEA deranged man in August, 1987

stalked the small town of Hungerford,England, for eight hours shooting thirtypeople, killing sixteen. Neither the policenor any armed citizen tried to stop him.In response, the English Parliamenttightened the gun laws considerably in1988. Another individual, identified bypolice as mentally unstable, murderedsixteen children and their teacher in 1996with his registered handgun. Parliamentresponded in 1997 by banning all hand-guns.

Did violent crime in England decreaseafter the two major gun control lawswere enacted? Not at all. From 1990 to2000, the homicide rate jumped 50%.Violent crime has been increasing since

the late 1980s, and since 1996 the rate ofviolent crime has surpassed the rate inthe United States. (During the same peri-ods, U.S. homicide and violent crimerates have been dropping.)

Firearm regulation and prohibition inEngland did not even reduce crimeinvolving firearms. Firearm crimeincreased 200% over the past decade.

AUSTRALIA: EXPENSIVE POLICY

FAILUREIn a situation horrifically like the

event in Hungerford, England, a mental-ly-disturbed man rampaged throughPort Arthur, Tasmania, in April 1996,murdering thirty-five people and seri-ously injuring eighteen more. The Aus-tralian government in 1997 responded tothe national media frenzy by overhaul-ing its firearm regulations. The new lawsincluded more licensing and registrationrequirements, and prohibited ownershipof semiautomatic firearms. Some 600,000firearms were confiscated from theirlicensed owners and destroyed.

It cost the nations taxpayers $500,000(Australian) to destroy those guns, butviolent crime did not decrease. Homi-cide rates involving firearms declinedsomewhat, but total homicide rates haveremained basically flat from 1995 to

2001. Robbery rates have climbed;armed robbery increased 166% nation-wide from 1996 to 1999. The robbery rateand assault rate have trended up in Aus-tralia while they have been dropping inthe U.S. In 2002, Australias robbery ratedoubled the U.S. rate.

CANADA: BILLION DOLLAR BLOWOUT

After a multiple shooting murderspree at the University of Montreal in1989 that took fourteen lives andwounded another thirteen students, theCanadian government enacted morerestrictive gun laws in 1991 and 1995,with some laws still phasing in. Didthese law changes reduce violent crime?Dr. Mauser lives in Canada, personallyresearched the effects of Canadasexpanded national gun control and gunregistration, and answered No.

From 1982 through 1994, Canadasviolent crime rose and fell in tandemwith the rates in the U.S., althoughCanadas overall rates were higher thanthe U.S. rates. After 1994, the U.S. violentcrime rate continued a steady decline,but Canadas rate of decline was muchless. From 1999 to 2001, Canadas rateshowed an increase while the U.S. ratestayed about constant.

Proponents of Canadas mandatory

ENEMY AT THE GATE

RESULTS OF NEW RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITIONS OF FIREARMS IN BRITISH COMMONWEALTH NATIONS

NATION DATES OF EFFECTS ON EFFECTS ON NEW LAWS VIOLENT CRIME RATES HOMICIDE RATES

Australia 1997 (ban) Robbery, armed robbery, Trended higherassault increased dramatically (while U.S. rates dropped)from 1996 to 2002

Canada 1991, 1995 Little at first; rates started No reduction of rateincreasing in 1999

England 1988, 1997 (ban) Rates continually increased 1990-2000: since 1988; spiked upward rate increased 50%from 1997 to present

THE GUN CONTROL EXPERIMENT:

A THREE-TIME LOSERBY RICHARD W. STEVENS

22 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004

ENEMY AT THE GATE

ESI SATELLITE COURSESThe Society of the Hwarang and Executive Security

International (ESI) joined together to sponsor a series

of defensive tactics classes for working professionals and

martial art enthusiasts. Satellite courses will be hosted

by Bob Duggan, President of ESI, and taught by old

friends and colleagues who have practiced the arts for

twenty years or more. The Satellites will offer

certification to working professionals with skills in

security, protection careers and martial artists who are

seeking careers as instructors.

DIM MAK Pressure Point Fighting

Dr. Joe Bannon, Ph.D. - Special Agent

Joint Anti-Terrorist Tactical

Intelligence Unit

Philippine Edged Weapons -

John Lelis Sheriffs Deputy Edged

Weapons and Law Enforcement

Defensive Tactics Instructor

Aiki Jujutsu - John Clodig,

Yanagi Hara Ryu, Tradition based

principles for modern times

WWW.HWARANG.ORG

www.esi-lifeforce.comIf you are interested in placement on invitation list, call

ESI at 1 800 874-0888

DEFENSIVE ARTS FORBODYGUARDS AND MARTIAL

ARTISTSwww.swatmag.com

national gun registration scheme promised thatit would cost about $2 million (Canadian).Government auditors now report the schemehas cost $1 billion, with enforcement costsapproaching another $2 billion.

SORRY RESULTS ACHIEVEDEnforcement of gun control laws can seri-

ously harm innocent people. For example, aten-year-old boy took one bullet to his school inAustralia last year for show and tell. Schoolauthorities discovered the bullet and calledpolice who searched the boys home. The boysfather was convicted in January 2004 of failingto sufficiently hide his locked gun safe. The manwas fined, faces revocation of his gun license,and had his entire $3,000 gun collection confis-cated for destruction.

Laws that harass decent citizens, but fail toreduce crime as advertised, breed public cyni-cism toward government. Tens of thousands ofCanadians, for example, have been resistingthe national gun registration laws by refusingto comply. Enforcement of demonstrablyworthless laws drives a wedge between peaceofficers and their fellow citizens. And the dollarcosts of these failed gun control policies arehuge.

THE PROFESSORS PARTING THOUGHT

Seeing how the three Commonwealthnations responded to high-profile horrificcrimes by installing more firearms regulationsand prohibitions that fail to reduce violentcrime, Dr. Mauser observed: Gun laws may notreduce violent crime, but criminal violencecauses gun lawsat least, well-publicizedcrimes do. The only winner in this drama isbureaucracy. The rest of us lose liberty as wellas safety.

[Richard W. Stevens is author (with AaronZelman) of Death by Gun Control: The HumanCost of Victim Disarmament, which is available atwww.jpfo.org.]

REFERENCES:Canadian Unregistered Firearms Owners Asso-ciation, www.cufoa.ca

Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Associa-tion, www.lufa.ca

Lower, Gavin. 2004. Sorry dad bites bullet. TheTasmanian Mercury. January 8. www.themer-cury.news.au

Mauser, Gary. 2003. The Failed Experiment:Gun Control and Public Safety in Canada, Aus-tralia, England and Wales. Vancouver, BC: TheFraser Institute.www.sfu.ca/~mauser/index1.html

L E U P O L D M A R K 4.

T H E F I R S T T O R E S P O N D

T O T H E F I R S T R E S P O N D E R S .

NEW LEUPOLD MARK 43-9X36MM MR/T M3

NEWLEUPOLD MARK 44.5-14X50MM LR/T M1

WITH ILLUMINATED RETICLE

The new Leupold Mark 4 3-9x36mm MR/T M3, mid-range tactical scope, designed atthe request of the U.S. Military for use in Afghanistan and refined with your input, is now available to all first responders. With eye relief optimized for AR-style weapons, finger-adjustable, knurled windage and elevation dials, and a bright, clear sight picture in all light conditions, its ideally suited for mid-range engagements.

Three new models of Leupold Mark 4 LR/T M1 Illuminated reticle riflescopes are alsoavailable, for extremely precise shooting at the longest distances, in the worst light conditions.The 4.5-14x50mm, 6.5-20x50mm, and 8.5-25x50mm LR/T M1 each give you outstandingbrightness and edge-to-edge sharpness for superior low-light capability, and finger-adjustable, knurled windage and elevation dials, which can be zeroed after sighting in.Based on your input, weve also illuminated theentire Leupold Mil Dot reticle from post to post, for maximum utility. First respondersknow their Leupold will perform as needed, when needed. After all, we build them like our lives are onthe line, because we know yours is.

For more information on Leupold tactical optics, call 1-800-929-4949 or visit www.leupold.com.

NEW FULLYILLUMINATED

MIL DOT RETICLE(AVAILABLE ON SELECTED MODELS)

2004 Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

24 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

DOWN ON THEURBAN RIFLE TRAINING IN UTAH

S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 25www.swatmag.com

The FARM just may be Utahs best-kept secret. Located thirty milessouthwest of Salt Lake City on aforty-acre plot, the FARM is an acronymfor Firearms Application Response Man-agement. The FARM provides special-ized training in a state-of-the-art facility.Courses offered include tactical pistol,counter-sniper, urban rifle, combat shot-gun tactics, informed self-defense/UtahConceal Carry Weapon certification andless lethal munitions. Established in1995, the FARMs main emphasis is law

enforcement, however, many of theclasses are open to anyone. Instructorsare highly credentialed, and are multiplegraduates of Gunsite, Thunder Ranch,ITC, DTI, LFI, H&K, and other schools.

Having served thirty years in lawenforcement, I attended the FARMsUrban Rifle course in 1998. At that time Iwas assigned to the training staff of theUtah Highway Patrol and was supervi-sor over the departments rifle program.The UHP had recently purchased 250military surplus M14 rifles. While theserifles are great battlefield weapons, theyhave many disadvantages to urbanapplications. I wanted to explore theapplication of the AR-15/M16s in urbanand traffic conditions. I left the M14 inthe trunk and deployed my personalColt AR-15 for this training.

Inspired by Clint Smith, the FARMsUrban Rifle course stresses deploymentof magazine-fed rifles at pistol distancesand provides significant trigger time uti-lizing cover, weapon manipulation andsimulator experience. Students soonlearn that the purpose of shooting is to

stop the fight. This training is a quantumleap up the power curve with compre-hensive shooting, movement and com-munication.

A veteran of the Utah Department ofPublic Safety Special EmergencyResponse Team (SERT), I received hun-dreds of hours of specialized training.My training included ATLAS (Anti Ter-ror Logistics and Systems)an Israeli-based organization consisting of Israelicommandos and officers from GSG-9and the SAS. I also received specializedtraining from Prince George County,Maryland, Police Emergency Services,and the London Metro Police TacticalDivision, sniper training from the Unit-ed States Marine Corps and more. Inshort, my department had invested a lotof time and money to bring me up tospeed in the use and application offirearms. What I learned in 1998 wasthat the same caliber and level of train-ing was now available in Utah, at theFARM.

After I retired from law enforcement, Ireturned to the FARM and observed anUrban Rifle course taught by Scott Swof-ford. Students in attendance were wellprepared for this high-speed, low-dragtraining. Unlike many schools that allowparticipants to wear tank tops andshorts, the FARM prides itself in push-ing all participantscivilian andpoliceto the limit. The theory behindthis thinking is there is no second placewinner in a gun battle. Students camewell prepared with knee and elbowpads, load bearing vests and ballistichelmets.

For three days students learned thevalue of a rifle as a personal defenseweapon. Students at the FARM mustcarry all essential equipment. They weretold to pack water, bandages, bullets andbeans. During a gunfight there is nosuch thing as, Time out, I need to go getmore ammo. or Im thirsty, can wetake a break? Students learned to maxi-mize the distance between themselvesand the potential threat and to minimizethemselves as a target. Another of ClintSmiths concepts was taught: You havethe rest of your life to solve the problem.How long your life lasts depends onhow well you do it.

Students at the FARM learn to carryout what they carry in. This is nothingnewin fact it reminded me of my tourin Vietnam with the Marine Corps.

BY LES LANGFORD

Students learn to utilize available cover.

Eight ranges provide a myriad of reactiveand automated targets.

Strategically placedportholes on the

Scrambler require avariety of shooting

positions.

26 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004

THE FARMwww.swatmag.com

However, police officers often train withonly small objectives in mind. In otherwords, once a gun-battle is over the policecan always retrieve empty, discardedmagazines. That is not the case withurban tactics where the gun-battle maycontinue for several blocks. Such was thecase in the infamous Los Angeles shoot-out that lasted forty-four minutes.

On February 28, 1997, the North Holly-wood bank robbery and shootoutchanged the mind-set for future policetraining and equipment. This incidentgenerated a new appreciation for urbanrifle training. While Los Angeles SWATofficers were well equipped with high-power carbines and submachine guns, LApolice officers were poorly equipped todeal with a crime spree of this magni-tudetwo gunmen, heavily armed andwearing body armor.

Following this incident I receivednumerous inquiries from various policeagencies regarding the Utah HighwayPatrol rifle program and the use of riflesin urban settings. For years law enforce-ment had the misimpression that a 5.56carbine had too much firepower. Citingexperts that claimed over-penetration, tooaggressive a weapon and not necessaryfor routine patrol, administrators actuallybelieved that the standard issue sidearmand a shotgun loaded with buckshot werethe only firearms needed.

After September 11, 2001, law enforce-ment began to take a second look atHomeland Security on a local, state,national and international level. The needfor well-equipped and highly trainedpolice officers has never been greater. Inmy opinion urban rifle training should bethe standard mode-of-operation for alllaw enforcement agencies. Standardequipment should include a carbine and aload-bearing vest with multiple maga-zines.

Unfortunately many departments donot have the resources for this equipment.Most officers have the attitude of If thedepartment wants me to have it thedepartment is going to have to buy it. Illbet that many of those Los Angeles offi-cers would have given two weeks pay fora 5.56 carbine and 200 rounds of ammuni-tion when the bullets began to fly.

The FARMs Urban Rifle course teachesthat there is no substitute for a good car-bine under these conditions. Contrary topopular belief, the .223 will not over pene-trate. The carbine is more accurate than ahandgun, the magazine capacity isgreater, the foot-pounds of energy is farsuperior and the carbine can be tactically

THE SCHOOL FORBODYGUARDS

ESI

24 years as a Training AcademyThinking about putting your military or

police experience to use as a professional bodyguard?

Since 1980, ESI, Executive Security International has

offered 2000 hours of peer reviewed certification

programs in Executive Protection and Protective

Intelligence & Investigation.

www.esi-lifeforce.com

Toll Free 800-874-0888

For Information

Send $15 for ESIs 48-Page Color Catalog

ESI

2128 Railroad Avenue, Dept. SW

Rifle, Colorado 81650

www.esi-lifeforce.com

Call Toll Free 800-874-0888

write us at:ESI

2128 Railroad Avenue, Dept. SWRifle, Colorado 81650

28 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004

THE FARMwww.swatmag.com

deployed in a variety of situations. The bot-tom line is to never take a handgun into agun-battle.

On April 20, 1999, fifteen people died inthe now infamous Columbine High Schoolshooting rampage in Littleton, Colorado.Since that time many agencies have initiat-ed rapid response training when an activeshooter is involved. In other words, do notwait for SWAT/SERT teams to arrive. Onceas few as three to four officers have arrivedon-scene, regardless of agency, they shouldenter the building with the purpose oflocating and neutralizing the threat. Offi-cers that take the time to receive specializedtraining and equipment themselves will bebetter prepared to handle such incidents.Most police agencies agree it is not a matterof if it will happen again, but rather whenand where it will happen again.

The FARM has seven outdoor ranges,with a myriad of reactive and automatedtargets and an indoor simulator.

The Backyard utilizes steel plates for pis-tol and close quarter work.

The City is an urban city complete withstorefronts, vehicles and moving targets.

Located 100 yards from the City is theScrambler, a building designed for snipertraining with window, rooftop and variousstrategically placed portholes.

The Gulch consists of turning targetswith shooting positions from three to onehundred yards.

The Fort uses turning and moving tar-gets out to twenty-five yards.

The Corral is designed for pistol, subma-chine guns, and shotguns.

A 360-degree shoot house known as TheBarn includes numerous rooms, hallways,windows, and doorwaysaffectionatelyreferred to as bullet magnets. The Barnallows for low light, live fire and force on-force training.

The FARM is the test and developmentrange for Action Target located at Provo,Utah, and is constantly updated with themost exciting developments in target sys-tems.

With a group of five or more, the FARMcan customize curriculum design and spe-cific scheduling. The FARM may be Utahsbest-kept secretbut not for long.

SOURCE:FARMRyan Nell, ManagerDept. S.W.A.T.5189 South 300 WestMurray, Utah 84107(801) 313-0802www.farmpolicesupply.com

THE ARTICLE NAME

On any list of the best places to getinto trouble, the corner bar wouldcertainly occupy the top threeslots. If youre looking for a game ofpool, a little conversation or a chance tochat up some local sweet thing, itshard to beat the corner lounge. Its alsoa great place to be assaulted, robbed,stabbed and shot.

Bars come in all shapes and sizes,ranging from swanky clubs with a $20cover charge to the kind of place whereonly reprobates and gun writers areallowed inside the door. Regardless, thelate-night mixture of alcohol and peo-ple is more volatile than nitroglycerine.

There is a simple rule of thumb forvisiting any saloon or tavern: avoidanceis the answer to all problems. Respond-ing to personal safety threats is bestdone with a clear head and sound judg-

ment, both of which are lacking whenyou are approaching fogged in status.

Faced with the plethora of tacticalunknowns presented by a bar full ofpeople in various stages of intoxication,your best answer for any potentialproblem is to run in the opposite direc-tion just like a scared little bunny,preferably before things get to the crisisstage. Otherwise you are very likely tobecome a participant rather than a wit-ness through no fault of your own. Ifyou enjoy a good tussle, this is fine, buta real bar fight is a great way to get anunexpected knife between the ribs or astray bullet to the gut. Knowing wherethe back door is located isnt a bad idea.

Drunks are the native fauna of everybar and the cause of much trouble.They come in two basic flavorsmeanand friendly. In either case, you are

more likely to explain the workings ofthe U.S. Electoral College to your dogthan to hold a coherent discussion witha drunk.

The problem inherent with inebriatedpeople is that the friendly drunk wontleave you alone and the mean drunkswill want to fight. Sometimes, thefriendly drunk turns mean when youdont want to keep talking aboutLynyrd Skynryd for another two hours.The best way to handle an intoxicatednew best friend is to excuse yourselffor a quick trip to the restroom. Whenyou return, he will probably be pester-ing someone else. Regardless, dont tryto reason with a drunk as it is animpossible task and likely to upset himat some point.

Women are the principal causativefactor behind a majority of bar fights.

STREET SMARTS

THE BEST PLACETO GET IN TROUBLE

BY BRENT T. WHEAT30 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

STREET SMARTS

All police officers would be wealthy ifthey were given a nickel for every barfight they have attended that startedover a girlfriend, wife, ex-wife or hotbabe in a short skirt at the end of thebar.

If some incredible hulk suddenlyaccosts you because you were talkingwith his soon-to-be ex-wife, it is easiestand less painful to simply apologizeand move away before the fists fly. Letyour ego become involved and a fightis guaranteed. Women are seldom sostupid as to fight over men, but whenthey do it is violent and frighteningunless they are the evenings featuredevent.

Though it seems unlikely, one of themost dangerous spots in any bar is nearthe front door. This is typically the loca-tion where trouble starts, whether afight between feuding parties or thedrunk returning to shoot the bouncerwho threw him into the street a fewminutes earlier. Always watch the door.

The parking lot of a bar is perhapsone of the most dangerous publicplaces outside of Gary, Indiana. While afair number of random assaults takeplace, most incidents involve parties

that were originally at odds inside theestablishment. The problem with park-ing lot fights is that they are in closeproximity to vehicles, which often con-tain weapons. If you witness a fight andsomeone runs to their vehicle, they areprobably not retrieving a favoriteGeorge Michael CD. Get ready to duckand run if the bullets fly.

Should you wear a weapon (especial-ly a firearm) into a bar? Aside fromareas where this is illegal, it is also theheight of stupidity. While you might bea fair shot and a reasonable fellow, pasthistory has shown that you are likely tobecome some kind of Dirty Harrywhen faced with trouble, regardless ifit actually requires a deadly forceresponse. If there is gunplay, your bul-lets probably wont hit anything excepta toddler across the street and you arevery likely to be arrested if the policeshow up. Cops hate guns in bars.

The simple advice, frequently givenand followed by this writer, is this: ifyou are drinking, all weapons stay athome. If you feel that you cannot safelygo unarmed into a saloon, go else-where or stay home. This rule shouldbe considered inviolate.

If the police show up, the best courseof action is to be courteous and followtheir instructions because they reallydont like going to bar fights. Theirmood is likely to be sour and even themost mellow officer will endorse thepolicy of making speedy arrests to fore-stall future problems. Arguing willonly serve as a prelude to the paddywagon even if you are the aggrievedparty. If a friend is causing the prob-lem, politely offer to take him home ifthe officers are so inclined to give abreak. If he is being handcuffed, standback and be quiet because there areplenty of handcuffs still available. Real-ize that what may seem polite andquiet to you may indeed be somethingelse to those who havent been enjoy-ing spirituous beverages.

Bars and taverns are wonderfulplaces to spend time with friends,hanging out and laughing a little tooloud. Dont stop going out and enjoy-ing life, but remember that problemsare waiting at the bottom of every beerbottle. Stay alert and dont let the lastshot for the road be a 210-grain hollow-point. 32 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

34 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

Although the H&K MP5 hasbecome the dominant submachinegun with police tactical units andmany military units, for most civiliansthe most recognizable submachine gunin the world remains the Uzi. In fact, formany non-shooters the term Uzi isused almost synonymously with sub-machine gun.

I find it interesting that I have Jewishfriends who basically know nothingabout firearms, but can field strip anUzi. This skill remains from time spentworking on a kibbutz in Israel duringtheir youth when they kept an Uzi near-by while performing their daily tasks.One woman told me she used to sling anUzi while taking children to play fromthe nursery where she worked, whileothers carried them while delivering

farm produce or visiting a nearby villageto make purchases. A TV director withwhom Ive worked on Tales Of The Gunshot an Uzi out of nostalgia while wewere filming and showed me themethod he had been taught for shootingit on the kibbutz. Based on the assump-tion that many of those using the Uziwould have little shooting background,he was instructed to start shooting infront of the target and walk the burstonto it, a technique which was standardin instructing American Jews workingon the kibbutz.

I first became familiar with the Uziwhen I received my initial foreignweapons training, but I grew to appreci-ate the Israeli SMG when I used it onVIP protection assignments during the1970s. Of course, the most famous pro-

tective unit to use the Uzi is the SecretService, but other teams around theworld have also used it. Along with theBeretta M12, it was the SMG in whichwe put our trust on details in Europe,Asia and Africa.

I have also seen a strong appreciationfor the Uzi among special ops units.When I was a grad student at UniversityCollege, U. of London, a friend of minewas an Israeli English professor whohad also been a paratrooper during theSix Day War. He retained contacts withthe El Al security force at Heathrow Air-port, and I spent a couple of interestingevenings discussing weapons and tacticswith them. One was an ex-member ofIsraels Flotilla 13the IDF combatswimmer unitand was especially fondof the Uzi. In fact, he later demonstrated

LONG GUNS

DONTUNDERESTIMATE

THEUZIBY LEROY THOMPSONUzis cyclic rate offers good control in full auto.

LONG GUNS

for me the quick engagement techniqueused by Israeli special forces with theUzi. At first, the stock seems to ride veryhigh on the shoulder, but with practice,it is quite effective. I have found admira-tion a common sentiment among com-bat swimmer units who have used theUzi, as it holds up well to contact withwater and functions reliably after aquick shake to clear the barrel.

In considering the Uzi, it is importantto remember that it was designed toequip the citizens of a small country sur-rounded by enemies who are constantlytrying to destroy the Jewish state. It hasproven an excellent SMG in the hands ofIsraeli military and police personnel aswell as those in myriad other countries,but it has also been carried by Israeli ele-mentary teachers as they took theircharges on field trips. In simple terms,the Uzi was designed to be user-friend-lyand I find that one of its greateststrengths.

It was also designed to offer a goodtrade-off between size and performance.For example, with an overall length of17.3 inches with the stock folded, the Uzistill manages to have a 10.25-inch barrel.This is accomplished by a design in

which the bolt sur-rounds the barrel.Just as a note onoverall length, inpreference to theMini Uzi, theSecret Serviceshortens the bar-rels on their stan-dard Uzis whichmakes them morecompact whileretaining the lowercyclic rate of thefull-sized Uzi.

Other very user-friendly featuresinclude the topmounted bolt han-dle, which is easilyoperable witheither hand, andthe pistol grip. Byincorporating themagazine well intothe pistol grip,faster reloads with-out looking are possible through thehand seeking hand system. The selec-tor switch is also incorporated into the

pistol grip and with practice can be easi-ly operated with the thumb. The gripsafety is an extremely important feature.

The author has found the Uzi works well for tasks such asoperating roadblocks or checkpoints since the grip safety offersenhanced safety when slung and kept ready in one hand whilethe other hand is occupied.36 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

LONG GUNS

I have found the grip safety very usefulwhen using the Uzi for missions such asvehicle searches or other checkpointoperations. One can sling the Uzi so thatthe right hand retains control of it whileusing the left hand to open doors, directtraffic, etc. Should something arouseones suspicions, the selector may bepushed to fire mode, but the weaponmay be instantly rendered safe shouldthe situation prove to be no shoot byjust releasing the pistol grip. The maga-zine release is also located on the pistolgrip and may be readily worked withthe left hand as the empty mag isstripped out while retaining the shoot-ing grip with the right.

Shooting characteristics with the Uziare good, though the front post and rearpeep sights are not as good as those onthe MP5 and some others. Still, theyoffer good results to 50-100 yards. Quickdeployment of the standard Uzi col-lapsible stock takes some practice, butone can get quick at slapping it intoposition if he uses it a lot. Some militaryunits use the fixed wooden stock whichmakes the Uzi much easier to fire, butmost will want the more compact col-lapsible model. The cyclic rate on the

standard Uzi runs in the 550-600 RPMrange which allows good control ofmuzzle rise and good trigger control.For some reason, I find that I can shootthe Uzi better while moving towards oraway from a target than other SMGswhich I have shot quite a lot, includingthe MP5. I dont know the technical rea-son, but I find its design allows me bet-ter accuracy while on the move.

For those wanting a more compactversion of the Uzi, the Mini or Micromodels are available, the former atabout fourteen inches overall with stockretracted and the latter at about eleveninches. These examples are a bit morecompact, but their high cyclic ratesmake them very difficult to control onfull auto.

Three magazines are normally avail-able for the Uzitwenty-, twenty-five-,and thirty-two round. The thirty-tworound is most commonly encountered.However, for VIP protection teams, Ialways preferred the twenty-five roundmagazine in the gun backed up by thir-ty-two round magazines. This allowedthe Uzi to be carried a bit more readilybeneath a coat and brought into action alittle more readily since there was less

protrusion beneath the magazine well.Once the twenty-round magazine wasintroduced, it worked even better.

Originally, only open bolt Uzis wereavailable, but now one can choosebetween a closed bolt or open boltdesign. I guess I have a slight preferencefor the open bolt design only because Ihave done most of my Uzi shootingwith this type. I would recommend,however, for safety purposes that anyunit armed with Uzis, Mini Uzis,and/or Micro Uzis choose only openbolt or closed bolt models to avoid con-fusion in the safety drill since a closedbolt design is rendered safe when thebolt is back, an open design when thebolt is forward.

The Uzi is an excellent design, insome ways the AK-47 of SMGs since ithas proven itself capable of standing upto hard usage and sometimes littlemaintenance, yet it continues to operateeffectively under harsh conditions. TheMP5 may be better for precision hostagerescue operations by units who canmaintain it and has even proven itselfdurable in military special ops usage,but for hard usage over an extendedperiod I would still choose the Uzi. S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 37www.swatmag.com

Model 99-1Law Enforcement Agencies world-wide areadopting the power of Barretts Model 99-1 forthose special tactical requirements when noth-ing less can accomplish the job. For hardenedbarricade penetration, for fire suppression during an entry, positive vehicle immobilization,or explosive ordnance disposal nothingworks like the .50 BMG round. Thats whyBarretts Model 99-1 tactical rifle is now standardissue equipment for Special Weapons Teams indepartments across the nation.

If you have a scenario tonight that absolutelydemands a .50, youd better have one in your armory today. The Barrett Model 99-1 in .50 BMG.

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.P.O. Box 1077, Dept S1 Murfreesboro, TN USA 37133-1077

Phone: 615-896-2938 Fax: 615-896-7313E-mail: mail@barrettrifles.com www.barrettrifles.com

Extended optics rail mounts night vision, laser or

optical sighting systems

29-inch, fluted match grade barrel, airgauged for precision accuracy 46.4" overall length

Two chamber muzzle brake reduces felt recoil to equal

a 12-gauge slug gun

Special Applications Scoped Rifle (SASR)

Barrett M33 Ball

82A1M M82A1 99 99-1 95

38 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

THE ARTICLE NAME

Although BlackHawk Industries is

perhaps best known for its exten-sive line of tactical nylon gear and

HydraStorm hydration systems, theseare just part of its expanding lines of tac-tical gear. Other products now includethe superb Dynamic Entry line of entrytools and battering rams, and the Hell-Storm line of personal protective gear.The HellStorm product line includeselbow, shin and kneepads, balaclavas, alow profile watch cap that can be wornunder ballistic helmets and numeroustactical gloves.

BlackHawk has rapidly gained recog-nition as one of the premier tacticalglove manufacturers. First introduced in2002, BlackHawks HellStorm TacticalAssault Gloves have quickly establishedan excellent reputation in law enforce-

ment and military circles. HellStormgloves were among the products singledout for mention in recent debriefs fromthe front lines in Iraq (Small Arms andIndividual Equipment Lessons Learned,Operation Iraqi Freedom, compiled byUSAJFKSWCS, Army Special Opera-tions Lab, dated 15 May 2003).

BlackHawk manufactures an exten-sive line of HellStorm gloves, includingdriving gloves, shooting gloves, HazMatgloves, viral barrier gloves, rappellinggloves, water ops gloves, aviator gloves,assault gloves, and rescue gloves. What-ever your needs are, its likely theres aHellStorm glove that will meet thoseneeds.

BlackHawk recently provided mewith samples of its HellStormS.O.L.A.G., S.O.L.A.G. Kevlar, NaviGun-

ner Fury Kevlar, Stealth Aviator, andNomex Aviator Tactical Assault Glovesfor evaluation.

The HellStorm S.O.L.A.G. (SpecialOperations Light Assault Glove) is alightweight glove designed for tacticallaw enforcement and military opera-tions. Made of synthetic compositematerials, the S.O.L.A.G. is lightweight,breathable, quick drying and durable.The S.O.L.A.G. has full wrist supportand a dual back-of-the-hand hook-and-loop adjustment system. The glove pro-vides a high level of dexterity and has amultiple stitch layer design for enhancedgripping. Both full-finger and half-fingerS.O.L.A.G. gloves are available.

In 2003, BlackHawk introduced aKevlar and leather version of theS.O.L.A.G. The HellStorm S.O.L.A.G.

THE SKUNK WORKS

BLACKHAWKHELLSTORMBLACKHAWKHELLSTORMTACTICAL GLOVES

BY EUGENE NIELSEN

BlackHawk offersNomex flight glovesin black, olive draband tan.

The HellstormS.O.L.A.G. Kevlar

Light Assault Glove.

THE SKUNK WORKS

S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 39www.swatmag.com

Kevlar glove is a full-fingered glove thatsdesigned for entry teams, grenadiers, orany operator employing pyrotechnicdevices. The S.O.L.A.G. Kevlar providesall of the features of the standardS.O.L.A.G., plus Kevlar thermal and flashprotection.

The HellStorm Fury Kevlar glove isanother option for those who need theprotection of Kevlar. The Fury Kevlarglove provides full Kevlar coverage andprotection to the hand, wrist and fore-arms. The glove features an elasticizedwrist and forearm to keep sparks anddebris away from the skin. Leather andcross cuts on the palm and fingers pro-vide excellent grip. The heel of the palmis padded for additional protection andcomfort. A pad over the knuckles on thetop of the glove provides protection to theback of the hand.

The Fury Kevlar glove features Black-Hawks patented Quad Index FingerStitching. The Quad Stitching Ringson the index finger increase grip andallows the user to custom fit, cut andmodify the index finger of the glove. Theuser can cut between any one of fourstitch lines to remove a portion of theglove to expose the index finger of thehand for greater dexterity and triggercontrol. The stitch rings prevent the glovefrom unraveling or falling apart after usercustom modifications.

If you prefer an aviator style glove,BlackHawk offers you several options.The HellStorm Stealth Aviator is designedafter the U.S. Air Force flight glove, butwith a non-extended, four-inch shortercuff. The Stealth Aviator is constructed ofa knitted 100% Kevlar fabric. Other fea-tures include stitch lines on the index fin-ger of the glove to cut the glove tip offwithout unraveling and an additionalelastic gather on the glove back to holdthe glove snug. The Stealth Aviator pro-vides high dexterity and trigger control. Aversatile glove, its excellent for both tacti-cal ops and patrol duties.

BlackHawk also manufactures aNomex flight glove thats patterned afterthe U.S. Air Force flight glovethe Hell-Storm Nomex Aviator flight ops glove.Constructed of form-fitting Nomex with aprotective overcuff and soft leather palmand finger bottoms, the HellStormNomex Aviator differs from the U.S. milspec flight glove in that it features triggerfinger stitching for extra grip and cuttinglocations to prevent unraveling if the userchooses to cut away the index finger ofthe glove.

Both Kevlar and Nomex are aramid

40 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004

SharpCurves

Call for a Free Catalog!(866) 852-7262

SharpAheadCurves

www.Karambit .comPh

oto

by S

helb

y Ch

anwww.swatmag.com

fibers with excellent textile properties.Developed by Dupont, both fibers areinherently flame resistant and have lowthermal conductivity. They are selfextinguishing, non-combustive and willnot melt. They are able to withstandtemperatures of up to 800 F. For thesereasons, they are used where flame andheat resistance is required. Nomex hasbetter long term resistance to heat thanKevlar. Kevlar and Nomex fibers arestatic dissipative and exhibit very goodchemical stability. However, they willdecompose if exposed to chlorine.

Kevlar and Nomex provide addition-al cut and slash resistance. Kevlar isfour times more cut resistant thanleather, two times more cut resistantthan cotton fabric of equal weight, and40% more cut resistant than NOMEX.

If you will be operating aroundwater, the HellStorm NaviGunner is anexcellent choice. Although the Hell-Storm NaviGunner was designed forwater ops, its also a great glove for anycold, wet environment. The NaviGun-ner glove is a durable glove that literal-ly fits like a second skin. The back of theglove is 2mm neoprene, providingwarmth and insulation. The undersideof the glove is a super-thin neoprene. Iinitially thought the underside was thinleather, but BlackHawk advises me thatits neoprene. These are the only neo-prene gloves that Ive worn that giveyou the tactile feel of the finest leathergloves. The NaviGunner glove hasBlackHawks Hawk-Tex (a proprietaryanti-slip compound) on the palm andon three of the fingertips. These featurescombine to provide an excellent gripand high dexterity in cold, wet environ-ments. The NaviGunner features dou-ble stitch construction and a hook-and-loop and elastic wrist cinch.

As mentioned, all of the HellStormgloves provided for evaluation rated

THE SKUNK WORKS

S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 41

UUnniivveerrssaall TTrraauummaa BBaannddaaggeeFor First Responders, Military or Civilian, catastrophic trauma is asource of much apprehension: situations involving broken bones,major contusions or severe bleeding which need to be administered toimmediately to save lives. H and H compression bandage CINCHTIGHT is the perfect tool for the First Responder to address thesetraumas and extend the Golden Hour for the severely injuredindividual.Replaces current ABD pads, elastic bandages, wraps,triangular bandages and splints. Call or e-mail for Pricing and Delivery

Engineered for fast one-handed, easy application

For Individual Use or Mass Casualty Scenario

Combat Proven: Designated Standard Combat Dressing by the U.S.M.C.

Moderate to Severe Hemorrhaging Simple and Compound Fractures

H AND H ASSOCIATES, INC.P.O. Box 189, Bena, VA 23018

1-800 326-5708 wwwwww..cciinncchhttiigghhtt..ccoomm rhhcubs@aol.com

Subscribe to

S.W.A.T.!See page 19 for details!www.swatmag.com

high in dexterity. This is very important.The dexterity of gloves is extremelyimportant for any task requiring finemotor skills, such as shooting. A lack ofdexterity is a major cause of unintention-al discharges when gloves are worn.

The most common method for ratingthe dexterity of gloves (and the mostobjective) is the British European Stan-dard (BS EN 420: 1994 Sec. 5.2). This stan-dard is utilized by the National Instituteof Justice (NIJ Test Protocol 99-114, datedJune 1999) and by most glove manufac-turers to measure/rate the dexterity ofgloves. The dexterity is determined bythe smallest pin (5mm diameter pin for ahigh rating) that can be successfullypicked up with the thumb and forefingerthree times in a row. A series of similarlength pins with different diameters areutilized.

BlackHawk has a well-deserved repu-tation for manufacturing first-rate tacticalgear. The HellStorm gloves are no excep-tion. The design, workmanship andmaterials of all of the HellStorm glovesprovided by BlackHawk were outstand-ing. All of the gloves had excellent ergon-mics and rugged construction. If you arelooking for top-of-the-line tactical gloves,take a close look at BlackHawks Hell-Storm line. The HellStorm S.O.L.A.G.,S.O.L.A.G. Kevlar, Stealth Aviator, andNaviGunner gloves come in black. TheHellStorm Nomex Aviator is available inblack, desert tan and olive drab.

SOURCE:BlackHawk Industries, Inc.Dept. S.W.A.T.4850 Brookside CourtNorfolk, VA 23502-2052(800) 694-5263www.blackhawkindustries.com

Hellstorm NaviGun-ner water ops glovesare designed to fitsnug. They are madewith Neoprene withHawkTex material onthe fingers.

42 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

When Eugene Stoner firstdebuted his AR rifle that uti-lized aluminum receivers itwas hailed as an engineering marvelacombination of lightweight materialsand an ingenious design that kept thegun from beating itself up. Compared tothe then-current U.S. service rifle, thenew rifles were amazingly lightweight. Idoubt if anyone, at the time, thought therifle could be made lighter.

Then, just a few years ago, Profession-al Ordnance introduced their Carbon 15rifles that used lightweight carbon fiberfor their upper and lower receivers,stock and handguard. The shootingcommunity now had an AR-style .223rifle that weighed less than 4-1/2pounds. Unfortunately the rifles hadsome problems and despite the compa-nys best efforts to correct them, theguns were branded untrustworthy, con-sumer confidence eroded and distribu-

tors dumped the guns for ridiculouslylow prices. Not surprisingly, the compa-ny filed for bankruptcy in 2002.

These events did not go unnoticed bythe principals at Bushmaster. Knowingthat the problems experienced by Pro-fessional Ordnance guns were cor-rectable, Bushmaster bought their assetsfrom bankruptcy court in 2003 andstarted their first production run ofrifles last August.

Professional Ordnance engineers did-nt just copy Stoners design they adapt-ed it to work with their ultra light-weight carbon fiber receivers. The

buffer system on the Carbon 15 uses amuch smaller diameter action springand the buffer tube (receiver extensionwould be the correct nomenclature) isshorter and also made from carbonfiber. The bolt carrier is also much short-er than the standard AR-15s. Profes-sional Ordnance also chose not to addthe forward assist and ejection portcover normally found on the AR-15/M16 rifles.

For whatever reason, ProfessionalOrdnance chose to make their owninternals for the rifle that were justenough different that they couldnt be

ARBONAN IMPROVEMENT O

BY MIKE DETTY from left to right: Bushmasters quick detach compensator is so efficient it actuallydrives the muzzle down during recoil. At the top is a standardAR-15 bolt carrier and charging handle. Below is the Carbon 15sbolt carrier and carbon fiber charging handle. With the buffertube, spring and buffer removed from the Carbon 15 rifle onecan readily see the differences between it and a standard AR-15carbine. A generously proportioned ghost ring provides excel-lent short range accuracy and quick target acquisition.

CBUSHMASTERS NEWRIFLE

OS.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 43www.swatmag.com

interchanged with ordinary AR parts.We strived to make the Carbon 15

more AR compatible, said a Bushmas-ter company spokesman. Everything inthe old gun seemed to be slightly differ-ent. We wanted the internals to be inter-changeable with the rest of our AR-15rifles. Were using our own hammersand triggers now and manufacturingour own bolt carrier which seemed to bethe source of many of the original riflesproblems.

I received a sample of the new Bush-master Carbon 15 Type 97S rifletheirtop of the line carbon fiber gun. Weigh-

ing just 4.45 pounds unloaded, the newcarbine feels more like a toy than a rifle.The right side of the rifles magazinewell proudly exhibits the coiled Bush-master logo.

Its hard to imagine anyone objectingto a standard AR-15 carbines weightwhich will weigh roughly 6.5 pounds.But I suppose there are a variety of sce-narios that require a lighter, carbinelength weapon that possesses a heavierguns reliability and accuracy. Bushmas-ters Carbon 15 fills that mission handi-ly without sacrificing anything.

Using carbon fiberan amazinglystrong and light material completelyunaffected by sunlight, oxidation, wateror corrosionBushmaster forms theupper and lower receivers, buttstockand handguard. The Type 97S rifle hasan anodized aluminum sight rail thatruns from the rear of the receiver to thefront of the handguard providing asight radius of fourteen inches. The ribincludes integral front and rear sightswith the rear being adjustable forwindage and possessing a generouslyproportioned ghost ring for quick targetacquisition. Flipping down the sightprovides a smaller aperture for moreprecise shooting out to 200 yards. Thelength of the sight rib is cut Picatinnystyle making it compatible for numer-ous sighting options. Its front sight is asquare post and is adjustable for eleva-tion.

My new Bushmaster possesses a fair-ly typical AR-15 trigger, breaking at 6.25

pounds with a little creep and overtrav-el. Safety/selector levers are located onboth sides of the receiver making thegun southpaw friendly. Both sides ofthe receiver are marked with a red Ffor fire and white S for safety. Bush-master includes a Hogue overmoldedrubber pistol grip on the Type 97S and Ilike the tacky feel it provides even whenmy hands are wet.

Carbon fiber is used to form thehandguard and its oval shape is notonly comfortable in the hand, but alsovery efficient in venting heat duringrapid fire. The buttstock is easily

removed from the rifle by turning alatch located just above the safety/selec-tor and separating it from the rifle.Bushmaster warns against firing thegun with its buttstock removed, butmentions that this feature is incorporat-ed to make the weapon more portable.

If packing the Type 97S rifle into ascompact a package as possible is thatimportant to you then youll undoubt-edly want to save an extra inch ofoverall length by removing the muzzlecompensator. Bushmaster uses a quick-detachable, self-centering design thatuses a spring-loaded locking collar. Ifound it especially helpful in keepingthis featherweights muzzle down dur-ing rapid fire exercises.

Bushmaster uses a stainless sixteen-inch barrel with a 1:9 twist to stabilizebullets from 50 to 70 grains. To promoterapid cooling of the barrel, Bushmastercuts eight deep longitudinal flutes alongits length. The flutes make the barrellighter and the increased surface areaalso makes the barrel more rigid.Mounts for flashlights and lasers thatattach to the barrel flutes are availablefrom Bushmaster.

To test the new Bushmaster s 100-yard accuracy I attached a Trijicon Com-pact ACOG with a 7 MOA dot reticle.With just 1.5X magnification and largeaiming point, the scope is designedmore for quickness than precisionshooting. Its ease of use and speed hasmade it popular with the military andlaw enforcement agencies. Trijicon uses

a fluorescent fiber light gathering sys-tem to brightly illuminate the dot aim-ing point. In low light situations tritiumilluminates the dot. I used a Trijiconspecial ring flattop adapter, with a sin-gle thumbscrew to attach it to the Bush-masters sight rib. Removing the scopeto use the iron sights takes just seconds.

On an unusually calm Tucson win-ters day I fired the Bushmaster carbonrifle at the Desert Trails 100-yard range.I fired the rifle from a solid benchrestconcentrating only on adding the 6.25pounds of pressure necessary to releasethe trigger. I used eight-inch diameter

N THE ORIGINAL?15

Bushmaster re-introduced the Car-bon 15 rifle after a brief absence. Theproblems associated with the origi-nal Carbon 15 have been rectified.

44 S.W.A.T. JUNE 2004 www.swatmag.com

Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C targetsand it was easy to align the Trijiconsfluorescent orange dot in the center ofthe black target.

For a gun that weighs thirty percentless than a traditional AR-15 carbine Iwas amazed at the results the new Car-bon 15 delivered. Of all of the ammuni-tions listed none of them printed a five-shot group over two inches at 100yards.

Black Hills 60-grain V-Max bulletsturned in the tightest group of the daywith five shots landing in a neat clustermeasuring just 1.47-inches. The nexttightest group was recorded by Win-chester s 55-grain Ballistic Silvertipammunition with a 1.63-inch group.Remember folks, this is not a heavy bar-reled weapon with a high magnificationscope and match triggerits a feather-weight with a 1.5 power scope.

The only problem that I ran into waswhen I used 68-grain ammo. For what-ever reason, the Bushmaster did notwant to feed the longer and heavierBlack Hills bullet. The rifle wanted tofeed these rounds into the area beneaththe chamber which pushed the bulletdeeply into the casing. I did not havetime to experiment with other brands ofammo in this weight nor was I able tocompletely diagnose the problemthough I am certain the rounds overalllength was a factor. Everything else fedand cycled 100% including the steelcased Sellier & Bellot 55-grain FMJ bul-lets.

One thing that I did notice whenshooting from the bench is that therecoil with this lightweight was moreactive than with a standard AR car-bine. Just no getting around the laws ofphysics I guesslighter weight equalsmore perceived recoil. Dont get mewrong though, I fired over 200 roundsfrom the bench that day and my arthrit-ic shoulder never growled.

I wondered if the rifles increasedmovement