Indholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2022 i Tactical Life

Versatile by nature, the 9mm Luger has grown to become the most popular handgun cartridge in the world. It strikes the balance between stopping power and recoil that defenders have been seeking since long before its creation. As it is also a NATO round, inexpensive (usually) practice fodder can be found on just about any gun store shelf, making it realistic to practice with the very gun that you carry. While practice ammunition can be purchased with very little thought, defensive ammo takes more consideration. As there is a chance that you could be staking your life on it one day, we decided to make it one of this year’s “Ammo Match” features and bring you eight of our favorite 9mm self-defense loads. THE RIG Being that I had to…

It was the marketing team at Federal who first noticed there was a large and exploitable gap between the .380 ACP cartridge and the 9mm cartridge. And, while the 9mm continues to enjoy the popularity of being the most popular cartridge for concealed carry handguns, Federal’s team knew that if they split the difference—ballistics-wise—between the two cartridges they’d have something to entice the concealed carry crowd. This was the beginning of what would become Federal’s brand new 30 Super Carry cartridge. I first learned of Federal’s secret project in early October at the fifth annual Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. This get-together brings in more than 30 different firearms, optics and ammunition manufacturers for some uninhibited face time with Athlon’s top content creators. One of my editors took me by the elbow…

With most things in life, you pay for a little more than you want to get the basic function that you desire. Those that have ever been car shopping can likely relate to this statement. “Oh, you want leather seats? Well, they only come with the deluxe dealer-upgrade package.” Nobody likes that, and the right manufacturers don’t like serving their customers that way either. For decades Springfield Armory has been the right manufacturer, offering a balanced array of budget-friendly options and tricked-out masterpieces. Somewhere along the line, the Geneseo-based gun company began filling in the gaps between these two extremes, particularly in its 1911 product family. Lineups like the Ronin, Garrison and Emissary offer packages of specific features to address the needs of a certain type of gun owner. While…

Suppressor use has never been as popular for military, law enforcement and civilians. The benefits of suppressor use are hard to argue against. Sig Sauer offers rifles, pistols and suppressors. Via baffle design and unique manufacturing processes, Sig has eliminated the need for an outer tube on their rifle suppressors. Sig utilizes 100 percent circumferential welds combined with wire electronic discharge machining (EDM) the pathway of the projectile. In addition to reducing weight, this tubeless design increases volume, lowering pressure and temperature for greater durability and increased signature reduction. These benefits set apart Sig suppressors. Sig further pushed the envelope using the best metals and coatings (physical vapor deposition-PVD-finish) combined with a superior mounting methods either direct thread or quick detach. PVD is more resistant to heat as well as…

The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow) was the world’s first jet fighter to enter service. It looked the part—a technological marvel with a shark-like, pointy fuselage, swept wings and two underslung turbojet engines. When officials demonstrated the Schwalbe to Adolf Hitler at Insterburg, Germany, on November 26, 1943, Hitler was merely making offhand conversation when he asked designer Willy Messerschmitt if the Me 262 could carry bombs. It could indeed, Messerschmitt assured the Führer, but while the Me 262 bore the name of his aircraft company he had not participated in its design and knew little about it. As an air-to-air weapon, the Me 262 extracted a toll. Its pilots—intrepid men, all, for the Me 262 was cantankerous and difficult to fly—were credited with shooting down 542 Allied warplanes while…

Whether fighting enemies abroad, within, or before even becoming a country, defending the land that’s been part of the United States has been a major focus for military operations for centuries. The country’s historical forts have been a large part of that, spanning several countries and time periods. A trip to some of these is a must for any history buff. Preserving these facilities keeps a connection to the country’s past and those who gave their lives. Here’s a look at just a few of America’s historic forts and a bit of their history. FORT TICONDEROGA TICONDEROGA, NY Built by the French in 1757, this site was originally used in battles between France and the British. Its critical location near Lake Champlain along the La Chute River made it important…

REMINGTON CUTLERY COLLECTION Sportsmen and collectors can once again find a variety of Remington cutlery showcasing familiar Big Green branding and quality. Remington is introducing four main series of knives—Woodland, Backwoods, Hunter and Guide Series—with each including pocket, folding and fixed-blade variations. The initial line will also include the hand-crafted in the USA Bullet Knife, an EDC line, a Sportsmen’s Series and Collectable Tin Gift Sets featuring art from the Remington collection and wild game scenes. (remington.com) SAVAGE 110 CARBON TACTICAL Savage Arms has announced the addition of the 110 Carbon Tactical to its line of 110 bolt-action rifles. The new rifle builds upon the success of the 110 Tactical, but cuts weight with an exclusive PROOF Research carbon fiber-wrapped stainless steel barrel securely housed in Savage’s rigid AccuStock. Of…

A few months ago we had the pleasure to once again gather in the shadow of the great Teton Mountains, bringing together our top content creators with over two dozen manufacturers for our annual Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous in Victor, Idaho. Our 10-bay range built atop golden rolling farmland was our pew-playground for three days of shooting and experiencing the newest products. One of the many companies that helped us out this year was Leupold, which brought some great new gear to assist in the range days. In appreciation of their support, here are some of the new products featured and why you should make them a part of your outdoor inventory. LEUPOLD SX-2 ALPINE HD20-60X60MM On the range this year, we used SX-2 Alpine scopes, and they performed fantastically. Our…

I’ve been shooting 1911s now for more than 45 years and I have been privileged to shoot some really good factory production guns. Guns that could win any match or deadly encounter in the right hands. I have also been able to fire and examine some truly exquisite 1911s that have been tuned and rebuilt by some of the finest pistolsmiths in the business. These work-of-art guns have often left me lusting after them, convinced that if I owned them, I would reach the highest echelons of competition. Pure fantasy on my part but a harmless fascination anyway as I could never afford one anyway. But in the past two years I have had the tremendous luck to review some of Nighthawk Custom’s production 1911s. MAKING OF A LEGEND: Production…

This is not your typical pack review because the Eberlestock Big Trick is not your typical pack. Eberlestock founder, Glen Eberle, is a multifaceted individual—Olympic-level biathlete, fighter pilot, backcountry hunter and innovator. The Big Trick provides superior tactical utility in a broad range of personal-defense situations, especially when compared to being confined to a handgun only approach. With the Eberlestock Big Trick there is much more than meets the eye. It is not just another pack. Much thought has gone into its design and construction. Two rare-earth magnets conceal a hidden opening on each side of the bag, allowing ambidextrous quick access to a handgun concealed-carry pouch. This pouch is V-shaped so that it controls the position of the handgun. The barrel will always point down, and the gun will…

Anyone who has served in the U.S. military since the early 1980s was likely issued a heavy composite helmet. While there has been some evolution in the design, the basic Kevlar helmet design has been used for nearly 40 years. These helmets replaced the old steel helmets because the composite materials did a far better job at protecting the wearer from serious wounds—including those from small arms fire. Nevertheless, these ballistic helmets have their drawbacks, beginning with the way in which they are made. Today’s modern combat helmets are comprised of flat sheets of ballistic material preformed into a helmet shape and then processed at a high heat. Wrinkling and folds occur as the flat fabric conforms to the three-dimensional shape. Those seams, wrinkles, and folds in the materials can…

Once a weapons platform seems to have reached its max design efficiency, the hardcore gun Jedi begin to look at ammo. The history of firearms is replete with countless wildcat cartridges that were designed to bring something more to a weapon platform. While it happens in handguns, it is primarily seen in the rifle world. This is exactly the case with the new rifle from American Tactical Importers (ATI) with their Omni Hybrid Maxx 6mm ARC. This new rifle from ATI slips back into an area that many have dabbled with, using a reinforced polymer receiver and aluminum upper. This design has had both fans and detractors, but it is undeniably unique. The ATI 6mm ARC rifle features an 18-inch barrel and 15-inch M-Lok-style rail. The barrel has a 1-in-7…

Despite its looks, this is no ordinary AK variant. The big deal about the M10X International Defense Rifle is that it draws together some of the best design features of the world’s most successful post-World War II military rifles and combines them to deliver a high level of accuracy from the 7.62x39mm cartridge while maintaining durability and reliability in a modern, easily adaptable modular form. When I got into it, I found it most similar to the Swiss STGW 90 (SIG SG 550) with its AK-style bolt, combined gas piston and bolt return spring, free-floated gas tube with integral regulator, and the use of a milled steel receiver with the barrel threaded into it. It may come as no surprise, then, that the rifle’s designer, Mike Meier, president of M+M…

Spotter up. Steel silhouette at 1,075 yards. Half value wind, hold right edge. Send it. The shooter presses the trigger and the shot rings out. About 1.9 seconds later the round impacts the steel and a faint sound echoes through the canyon back to the shooter. A quick cycle of the bolt and the shooter is back on target ready to send another one. This was a scenario played out countless times recently during an introduction to precision rifle class I ran in Idaho. These were mostly new shooters interested in learning more about the art of long-range shooting. There was a variety of rifles ranging from simple to custom. I had been preparing for the class when I received a very special package from Rock River Arms. I had…

The ads appear on social media sites advertising firearms silencers and, for many, the price seems just too good to pass up. The company uses Facebook or other online platforms, promising buyers a new silencer at just $99 or so. That seems like a nice deal as suppressors usually run in the $500 to $1,500 range. A couple clicks later and an order is placed with shipment coming soon. “… 2017 FIREARMS COMMERCE REPORT NOTED THAT THERE WERE ALMOST 1.4 MILLION SILENCERS IN THE U.S. NO DOUBT THAT HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.” As with many things, however, if something doesn’t seem right, it’s probably not. A few weeks later, the suppressor arrives labeled as a “fuel filter” or “solvent trap.” This isn’t a fuel filter however,…

There are certain constants in the universe. The Earth rotates around the sun, politicians waste money and gun owners always want something new. The last of these truths is played out every day on the internet. While some companies pay lip service to this cry from the wilderness, Springfield has taken their response to an all-new level. Starting in 2022, Springfield will be offering their first bullpup rifle to the market—the Springfield Hellion. Like many of you, I did a double take when I saw the first images of the Hellion. The new rifle is refreshing as it represents a unique and innovative approach to firearms design. For my fellow gun nerds out there, you will see that the gun has a very familiar French FAMAS rifle vibe to it.…

I am a sucker for budget-friendly workhorse firearms. The ones you would expect to run no matter what you throw at it, how dirty it gets, or how inexpensive it is. The underdogs, if you will. When I first discovered SAR USA, I was immediately intrigued by there full line of pretty attractive looking pistols, something a bit different. Then I saw the pricing and my jaw about hit the floor at SHOT Show a few years ago. Sarsilmaz is a company that is based in Turkey but is quickly making a big name for themselves in the U.S. under the name of SAR USA. Sarsilmaz is not just some new gun manufacturer. They have been in the gun manufacturing business since 1880 and are the supplier of the majority…

The “improving” of the direct impingement (DI) AR platform via piston-driven alternative is not a recent phenomenon. Even Eugene Stoner himself dabbled with piston-driven variants before leaving Armalite. After spawning the AR-15 and selling the rights to Colt, Armalite almost immediately turned to improving the AR-15 design, all the while being careful not to violate any conveyed patent rights. Arthur Miller, George Sullivan and Charles Dorchester were tasked to create an alternative to the AR-15 that evolved into the AR-18. This was accomplished by turning to a piston-operating rod action combined with using sheet stampings in the manufacturer of the lower and upper receivers. The AR-18 was equipped with a now all too familiar short-stroke gas piston located above the barrel. The AR-18’s bolt carrier rides two metal guide rods…

SOME WEAPONS PLATFORMS HAVE an inexplicable impact on you. They catapult you to somewhere else, make you feel like you’re better than you are and sometimes completely alter your shooting course. While I am a precision long-range-focused shooter with an insatiable interest in bolt-action rifles, I only morphed into this after shooting a semi-automatic rifle chambered in .300 Win. Mag., much like the Petra that Falkor offers. It’s funny how life works out because on top of producing that Win. Mag. beast as well as other top-of-the-line gas guns in other chamberings, Falkor Defense now produces one of the finest bolt-action rifles available on the market. “FALKOR HAS TAKEN ON A NEW ENDEAVOR, AND THEY’VE DONE SO WITH ZEAL, LITERALLY THROWING CAUTION TO THE WIND IN AN EFFORT TO PURSUE…

While the AR-15 is praised as America’s favorite rifle, the standard 5.56 NATO chambering leaves much to be desired. While rifle shooters know this, those who don’t work with the cartridge out to distance aren’t aware of how underpowered it is. At Renaissance Firearms Instruction we hold a course called the Two-Hour AR-15 shoot. Here students get to test a variety of AR-15s chambered in four different cartridges and about halfway through the course, most are shocked to hear that the adoption of the 5.56 cartridge cut the average infantryman’s range down to about half. Because of this, several cartridges have been introduced to try to remedy the lack of downrange energy and effective range with limited success. Most would say that the 6.5 Grendel is the most prominent of…

Did you ever find yourself as a kid dreaming of tearing about the skies in your own WWII-vintage fighter plane? Of course you did. Every normal male child on the planet dreamt of doing that. However, owning your own restored fighter is the very pinnacle of exotic rich-guy luxury. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, surplus military aircraft were actually quite plentiful. Uncle Sam tried selling these things to the public for about three years, but nobody was really interested. America had grown weary of war, and those with means had little interest in acquiring the implements of combat. Some enterprising investors eventually realized that you could drain the gas for resale and scrap the planes and get more than what the government was asking for them. In…

The Churchill 220 Optics Tactical red-dot equipped, 20-gauge defensive shotgun from European American Armory is sensible fire-power. The feature set is optimized for maneu-verability and close-quarters power projection, while the 20-gauge chambering keeps the chaos manageable. It is home defense without the kick. Featuring a 3-inch chamber and an 18.5-inch barrel topped off with a spiked breacher choke tube, the Churchill 220 Optics Tactical shotgun packs 5+1 onboard and weighs a paltry 5 pounds empty. The gas-operated, semiautomatic is designed for a single mission. This is the home-defense gun for the shooter who is comfortable with his or her masculinity. A MOST PATHETIC POISON Testicles are a curse, and testosterone is the most potent poison known to man. It is not a statistical aberration that 93 percent of the American…

Out of the ashes of First World War came the Thompson submachine gun, a firearm that could rightfully be considered the granddaddy of black guns. Yet another weapon was introduced in 1919 and, now 100-plus years later, it still remains in use throughout parts of the world—the U.S. Model 1919 .30-caliber machine gun designed by John Moses Browning (1855-1926). To this day, Browning has remained one of America’s most prolific and successful firearms designers of the 19th and 20th centuries. He pioneered the development of modern automatic and semi-automatic firearms and was awarded 128 firearms patents—the first when he was just 24 years old. JMB BACKSTORY Among the final weapons he designed was the U.S. M1919 air-cooled, recoil-operated machine gun, a weapon that improved upon his earlier designs that went…