Indholdsfortegnelse for Man Magnum Tactical Guide i Man Magnum Tactical Guide

THESE two platforms have been around for a while – the AK 47 since 1947 and the AR in the 1950s, entering US service in 1959. Since then countless variations of both have seen the light. In South Africa, the R4military rifle is well known to most as this AK-type arm was used by many during the border war. Locally, ARs are mostly available in .308 Win and 5.56mm Nato/.223 Win, while the AK can be found in 7.62x39 and .223/5.56mm. We’ll look a bit closer at both platforms and later discuss some pros and cons. These days original AK47s can be bought but more modern versions are also available, like the AKM. This stands for Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovannyi and is the designation chosen for the new modernised rifle following…

The design of the Galil assault rifle by Yisrael Galil was heavily influenced by the AK47 and an AK47 clone, the Finnish Valmet Rk62. Although it should be noted that there are significant differences and parts are not interchangeable between these weapons. The Galil is designed with NATO calibres in mind; particularly the 5.56x45 intermediate round, but variants in 7.62x51 are also available. Other subtle yet significant differences include a smaller gas port of 1.8mm as opposed to the 4.2mm of the AK47. Rear sights on the Galil are mounted on the dust cover whereas those of the AK-type weapons are mostly on the front part of the receiver, hence a longer sight radius for the Galil. The charge handle of the Galil is bent upwards to allow for both…

IN OUR rapidly advancing world of technical wonders, an astonishing fact is that history’s earliest commercially successful, self-contained metallic cartridge design remains the highest seller on the planet to this very day. The .22 rim-fire began life as the Flobert .22 BB Cap introduced in 1845 and firing a spherical lead bullet intended for indoor target shooting. In 1857, Winchester developed it into their .22 rim-fire short, firing a heeled cylindrical bullet and intended as a self-defence cartridge. Then, in 1871, came the .22 Long, followed by the .22 Long-Rifle in 1887 – still in the black powder era. Today, smokeless powder versions of all these .22 rim-fire rounds remain in production, and the .22LR is the world’s top-selling cartridge. Small wonder – firearms chambered for this cartridge come in…

SOME CHOICES ARE: Mossberg MC1sc 9mmP The MC1sc is a sub-compact following the traditional Glock striker-fired layout, with a few ingenious changes. With its 3.4-inch barrel, the Mossberg measures 6.25 inches overall and is 4.3-inches high. The single-stack 6-round magazine ensures that width is limited to an inch and it comes supplied with an extra 7-round mag. The MC1sc is also available with a laser. With the longer magazine full and the laser attached, the pistol weighs 644g. Its sights (white three-dot type) are dovetailed into the 416 stainless slide and Sig Sauer pistol sights will also fit, which ensures that aftermarket sights are freely available. The optional Viridian laser sight (red) that attaches to the trigger-guard can be removed by loosening two screws. The slide has narrow, deep cut-outs…

I RECENTLY had a request from Alex, a gentleman I know, who wanted to accompany me when I next headed out to do some long-range shooting. Looking at the topic from his perspective, I realised that long-range shooting is an activity with many challenges and obstacles to participation so getting into it might actually be quite daunting and thus some guidance would be beneficial. Alex had recently been to a gun shop in Johannesburg and had left under the impression that he had to spend close to R100 000 on an expensive rifle and top of the range optic as a starter kit. This would no doubt have been some good kit but was it what he needed to start out with? The first things to ask yourself would be:…

USING only one hand to reload or clear stoppages in a hand-gun can be a difficult task – whether it is your weak or strong hand but this can be easily mastered with regular practice. Weak Hand Reloads Assuming you are right-handed, but that your right hand or arm is incapacitated and you are firing with your weak hand but have emptied your magazine. The first step is to drop the magazine by pressing the mag release. If your pistol does not have an ambidextrous mag release, press the release button with your middle finger so as to retain your thumb-hold around the grip. Once the empty mag has dropped out, you must securely stow the pistol to perform the mag-change. One option is to tuck the pistol into your…

ALMOST all hunters today use scopes with the exception of professional hunters who carry big-bore rifles for back-up work on dangerous game and traditionalists who, in the spirit of yesteryear, prefer to hunt with open sights. A scope cannot turn you into a crack shot but, by enabling you to see better, it helps you to shoot more accurately. The diverse number of species we shoot and the varied terrain we hunt in demands the use of different scope types. And with so many brands, models and prices to consider, buying a scope often turns into a major operation. Professionals have specific needs and know what they want, but what about the average shooter? Because of diverse needs, personal preferences and the bewildering array of brands and models available, it…

OUR TOP CHOICES IF I COULD choose only one long-range rifle my top pick would be Accuracy International’s AT (Accuracy Tactical) standard model. It was designed as a sniper rifle for law enforcement and military purposes with the emphasis on reliability and accuracy. 1 Accuracy International AT Accuracy International (AI) has an enviable reputation when it comes to building sniper rifles. Their first, the Precision Marksman (PM), was based on their successful target shooting rifles. By soliciting input from snipers, AI was able to incorporate into the design the required ruggedness, reliability and ease of maintenance needed for this application. The first customer for the PM was the UK Special Boat Service, which, after evaluating it in 1984, acquired 8 rifles in 1985. They were closely followed by the UK…

Unloaded, the MSR rifle weighs 3.53kg. The upper and lower receiver are forged from lightweight, but strong, 7075-T6 aluminium. The MSR is manufactured with a forward assist, something that is missing from many modern AR versions. The MSR features a 16⅛", 4140 Chrome-Moly Vanadium steel barrel, button-cut with Savage’s 1:8 inch 5R right-hand twist rifling. Melonite coats the barrel inside and out for durability and good looks. The crown is cut to an 11 degree angle and the barrel has a muzzle-brake which further protects the crown. The barrel has a .223 Wylde chamber which accepts both .223 Rem and 5.56x45 Nato cartridges. It has a mid-length direct impingement gas system. Gas generated by the burning propellant is bled off through a hole in the barrel wall, just past midway,…

TO CONTROL bleeding from trauma caused either by accident or by intent is crucial; uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable deaths. Whether you are out hunting in the veld and there is an accidental shooting or your are at home cutting firewood with a chainsaw that slips and causes a major cut to your leg, if you suffer major trauma to an arterial artery your survival time without adequate care is very limited as death can occur within as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Even when emergency medical services are nearby, they probably won’t reach you in time. Therefore it is crucial to act quickly to stop the bleeding immediately in order to keep as much blood in your system as possible to minimize the risk…

FOR tactical use we recommend a semi-auto shotgun. A pump-action can be used just as effectively but, additional training is needed to ensure you can work the loading mechanism smoothly and fast under stress. Semi-autos can be tube or magazine fed and both systems have their pros and cons. Stoeger Shotgun 1 Stoeger M3K The M3K is a competition-ready, semi-auto shotgun from Stoeger Industries who are well-known for high-quality firearms at affordable prices. The M3K is a robust piece specifically catering for 3-Gun competition sport-shooters. The test model, chambered for 76mm (3") 12ga cartridges, is 1162.05mm long and weighs 3.3kg. The polymer stock is straight and has no cheek-piece (hence ambidextrous) with a soft rubber recoil-pad to tame the recoil in rapid-fire. While hollow to facilitate installation of a Stoeger…

FOR absolute safety when doing handgun training, a plastic replica handgun (blue tool) is invaluable. Beretta now offers replicas for the APX, PX4 and model 92 full-sized pistols. Apart from using the blue tool to fine-tune drawing and holstering, two magazines are supplied for learning the correct procedure when changing mags. The blue tool is made from a high impact resistant material and accepts all the accessories which can be placed on the original weapon. During training it provides the opportunity for certain force-on-force training exercises in utter safety, for example getting your range buddy to grab the pistol in a tussle, or having someone try to rip the gun out of your hand as part of proper grip training. For more information contact Normark Africa on 010-013-2398.…

THE urban dweller in SA scarcely goes a day without seeing a ‘riot gun’. Drive past a bank or a shopping centre, and you will see security firms collecting or delivering money; the guards are usually armed with shotguns or semi-automatic rifles, and our police and certain army personnel use riot guns. The questions is: Just how does the shotgun measure up as a fighting weapon and can it be used in, for example, rural/farming areas as an effective defence tool? At white-of-the-eye range, no civilian weapon is more lethal than a 12ga shotgun loaded with buckshot, unless it is a 10ga shotgun loaded the same way. The emphasis, however, is on close range. The shotgun should not be seen as a general purpose weapon, but as a part of…

OVER the years I’ve tested a number of handgun factory loads and used thousands of rounds of handloads, which has resulted in me learning a few lessons about ammo choice along the way. I’ll restrict my comments here to the 9mmP as this is the most popular defence round. Firstly, I prefer factory carry loads to handloads because over the last 30 years I’ve experienced almost no problems with factory ammo. I can only recall one misfire (I had a light primer strike), and bullets moving deeper into the cartridge case during prolonged carry in the magazine. To avoid this, it is a good idea to use your factory loads at certain intervals for training. With my handloads, I’ve experienced misfires and malfunctions like a cartridge not feeding, slide refusing…

LONG-RANGE hunting and especially competitive long-range gong shooting have become quite popular. Most of us regard shots taken at 300m as long-range shooting, but to long-range enthusiasts, long shots only start at 400m and stretch to 1 500m (or further). Engaging targets beyond 1 000m is called extreme long-range shooting. When hunting, it is always advisable to get as close to your quarry as possible to minimize the risk of wounding. Deliberately stretching ranges is not recommended. At times, however, reality dictates the taking of longer shots. While a growing number of farmers are welcoming those who want to shoot game beyond 400m, the average hunter/shooter does not have the skill to do so. Run of the mill hunters are comfortable taking shots out to 200m and for most, taking…

A FLASHLIGHT is essential if you have to use your defence handgun at night or in dark indoors conditions. You simply cannot fire a shot into the dark even if you are absolutely convinced terror awaits beyond what you can see. This means that if you do not have a light with you during the dark hours, you’ll probably not be able to use your defence arm at all, no matter how serious you perceive the threat to be. You can only fire a shot if you have identified the perpetrator/s as threatening your life. A handheld torch is a must as it helps you to identify the threat and to dominate individuals by blinding them. Small, lightweight units with a strong beam are now available in almost all shops.…

THE first knife was shaped by early man from animal bone and flat flint stone chips. As man developed, so did edged instruments. Eventually, with the discovery of iron, and as a result of newly-developed forging techniques, many types of edged instruments followed. Edged instruments slowly developed into two groups; fighting knives such as swords and daggers, and standard working knives. Most fixed blade knives have stayed the same for many centuries. Initially, daggers and general-purpose knives served a dual purpose – cutting foodstuffs and fighting as people used working knives for self-defence purposes. Knives are very personal instruments. Today, the huge variety of factory-made knives are able to satisfy almost every man’s need, style, and taste, especially for everyday carry (EDC). The shape of the blade determines the type…

Good tactical gloves protect your hands and wrists from injury without sacrificing dexterity. They’re ideal for shooting and hunting activities that require agility and precision, and defend your hands against cuts and abrasions. Although mostly used by military and police personnel, hunters and shooters can also benefit from a good pair of mitts. The advantage of most tactical gloves is that they offer more protection against thorns and rocks than say ordinary fleece gloves, while still keeping your hands relatively warm (depending on the type of glove). Summer gloves which ‘breathe’ are also available. Protecting your hands against cuts and thorns while hunting goes a long way in ensuring that you keep enjoying what you are doing. An infection can quickly ruin your long-planned trip. The same goes for on…