Innehållsförteckning för November/December 2015 från Recoil

The Cody Firearms Museum has a problem. It’s not due to their collection, which is one of the most comprehensive in the country. It’s not down to their building, which offers 45,000 square feet of guns, and, as part of the Buffalo Bill Center, is located on a 7-acre exhibition space. Rather, it’s due to the perception it only deals with “cowboy guns,” and therefore probably doesn’t have anything to offer the black rifle enthusiast, which is about as wrong as it’s possible to be. Less than an hour from the east gate of Yellowstone National Park lies the tourist town of Cody, surrounded by the kind of topography that makes cubicledwellers pine for the great open spaces of American West and draws thousands of ski bums, incurable romantics, and…

We tend to think of carbon fiber as a modern marvel that has allowed for amazing human accomplishments. But the truth is that it goes way back to the late 19th century — Thomas Edison baked cotton and bamboo to make carbon-fiber filaments for his light bulb prototypes. In 1958, physicist Roger Bacon officially invented the carbon fibers we know today by heating rayon strands until they carbonized. What exactly are they? They’re made of teeny strands of carbon that are tightly woven and bound with a resin. Sometimes called graphite fibers, they’re super stiff and have a superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel while being resistant to corrosion, expansion, and temperature. Plus, they’re versatile because they can have various densities and take on shapes that are limited only by…

At RECOIL, we try to take instruction from as wide a range of mentors as possible. Although we count ourselves as reasonably experienced, competent, and well-rounded shooters — not to mention devastatingly handsome men of international mystery and adventure — it’s rare that we’ll ever attend even a supposedly basic course without learning something new. And as soon as we start taking ourselves too seriously, along comes a newbie to hand us our ass. Whenever we attend a training event, we look for the three or four nuggets of information that set it apart from others, and then delve into the mechanics of how to execute them, before presenting it here so that you can evaluate the information for yourself. Recently, we attended a course held by the guys at…

Here at RECOIL, we’re all about making your dollar go a little further, even if it’s only to turn around and spend it on high-end, Gucci kit. Sure, there are times when you need that one, dedicated tool for a very specific job. But if we can get our gear to serve in multiple roles, then that frees up the budget for other important things in life. Like whiskey. While you may never actually buy a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle, you may nonetheless be interested in SIG SAUER’s suppressor tailored for that round — and here’s why. Tipping the scales at a very reasonable 19 ounces, it’s engineered to take the kind of hammering that a 250-grain bullet at 3,000 feet per second can dish out. As a result, pipsqueak…

Ernest Emerson is seen differently by different people. His customers view him as the eponymous founder of a knife company that makes some of the most hardcore tools on the planet. His students in the military and law enforcement rank him among the most elite instructors who’ve mastered unarmed and edged weapon combat. Some industry competitors fear his reputation as a quicktempered rival who’s not afraid to get in their faces about their business ethics. And his friends and family know him as a loving father and husband who makes family the top priority. So who’s the true Ernie (as close companions call him)? If you ask Emerson himself, he’ll tell you he’s just a poor Wisconsin kid who was lucky enough to grow up to become a custom knife-maker…

1 The Comet crew was my woobie. I wore it pretty much five days straight. It was great underneath a vest in the cool mornings, and alone when things warmed up to the mid 60s. Its got a light Helle Rambouillet wool outer lined with an ultra-thin microfiber layer against the skin. The inner fabric wicks moisture from your skin into the absorbent wool outer layer. The result is a buttery crewneck that is amazingly comfortable across a broad range of temperatures. MAKE: Duckworth MODEL: Comet Crew MSRP: $90 URL: www.duckworthco.com 2 Starting out in the mornings when the temps are in the low 40s demands something that maintains warmth, but takes up little room in your pack when temps rise. The Atom LT Vest is just that piece. It’s…

Winged and four-legged mascots have been used to symbolize everything from cars to sports teams to companies within the military for many years. So when it comes to personalizing one in the way of a morale patch, everyone has a favorite animal or can pick one that they feel best represents who they are. While it was tough to narrow down our picks to a few selections, we felt this was a good cross-section of both humor and seriousness, small and larger animals that could find a place in your patch collection. Whether it’s the Denzel Washington film Man on Fire or the A.J. Quinnell novel of the same name, you may want to check out both versions and then invest in the patch that satirizes the title character John…

Lexani has long been known for introducing radical new wheels, and this time around the company just released a new wheel called the Invictus-Z. This new wheel employs an array of trendsetting stand-alone characteristics that take personalized customization, extreme big brake clearance, and deep lip allure on a jaw-dropping journey. It’s skillfully designed and engineered to achieve massive brake caliper and rotor clearance yet still perfectly fit today’s extraordinarily high offset sport and luxury vehicles as only Lexani can do. Formulated from lightweight aluminum alloy, these length, tipped, concave, spoked stunners act as eye magnets perched in front of cavernous 5-inch-deep outer rim lips. Traditionally, Lexani innovation has always been on the forefront when it comes to custom wheel design and styling. Leading the way once again, Lexani launches its…

2014 JEEP JK RUBICON 6.4L HEMI V-8 SIX-SPEED MANUAL WWW.GREENBERETFOUNDATION.ORG WWW.ROADARMOR.COM WWW.STARWOODMOTORS.COM Raising awareness for a charity is no easy feat, particularly one focused on helping a group that doesn’t seek attention and prides itself on being “quiet professionals.” The Green Beret Foundation (GBF) was started in 2009 to give back to those who’ve served in its ranks and their families, as well as get the public interested in who the U.S. Army Special Forces are and what it takes to become one. When the idea was tabled to build a vehicle that could tour various events and get people excited about the organization’s cause, you can bet that it was going to be as resilient, practical, and ballsy as the soldiers it was representing. In other words, trailer queens…

Smith and Wesson introduced their Competition Optics Ready Equipment line of M&P’s as a plug-and-play means to enter the heady world of Open Division USPSA and three-gun matches. We’ll be the first to admit that this is far from an exclusive review — in fact we’re positively tardy when it comes to bringing you the scoop on this pistol. However, until now, no one in the media has actually considered whether it’s any good in its intended role. Those of us who have gone over to the Dark Side (as Open is jokingly called) are always looking for an edge, whether it’s a new powder or bullet, a different sight or mount, a faster holster, or just a cooler pair of shoes. The division is currently dominated by 2011-style guns…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. burst onto the national scene as a featherweight, winning a bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics and never looking back. Putting aside all the controversy in his personal life, Mayweather is undefeated in his professional career and his technical brilliance cannot be questioned. He’s widely considered to be one of the greatest pound-forpound fighters of all time. Bentwood Gunsmithing aims to do the same with their featherweight OIP (“Ounces Is Pounds”) carbine — delivering just what you need at the lightest possible weight with the greatest possible performance. Have they succeeded? Let’s take a look. HOW LOW CAN YOU GO The OIP had its genesis as a simple idea to build a lightweight gun that just plain worked. Dave Lake and Matt Babb of Bentwood Gunsmithing spent…

Some would have you think the modern AR-15 is a mystical device and working on one requires an eon of apprenticeship and a degree in mechanical engineering. Not so. All you really need is a willingness to learn by breaking stuff, enough cash to replace those broken parts, and a good set of tools. We spoke to a handful of armorers to get a feel for the best tools to get you through the most common jobs. Robb Jensen is a commercial armorer with Virginia Arms in Manassas, Virginia, Corporal Sean Dougherty is a SWAT officer and team armorer for Union County Police Department in New Jersey, and Nathan Murr is a prior service Marine and lay armorer who’s leveraged his firearm experience into a career working on government…

It’s been said that wheels and tires are the ultimate statement of self-expression, but they’re also an extension of your style— and sometimes your pocketbook. It’s not to say that the most expensive wheels are best, because we all know money can’t buy class. But if there’s one thing to remember, then remember this: Your wheels will say more about you than your ex, so choose wisely. There’s a certain camaraderie when it comes to wheels. If you see someone with the same manufacturer or same caliber of wheel, it creates an instant bond. But get caught riding dirty on a brand of wheels they don’t approve of, and you’ll soon become the butt of every joke. So if you’re in the scene to be seen, you already know what…

Tnce you read the title and see the rides that grace this page, there’s really not much more to say. From the menacing looks of these vehicles, you can only tell that American Vintage Steel is this wheel maker’s passion, which is why it should come as no surprise that the company behind it all is called Mob Steel. The one-time hobby turned automotive lifestyle— and now business—was all executed by Adam Genoi; and now he and his team of artisans have become front-runners when it comes to designing and crafting the worlds’ most menacing and tricked-out vehicles. We met this team of artisans years ago and since then, they’ve continually pumped out some of the most awe-inspiring project builds we’ve seen in that time. It comes as no surprise…

To better understand the essential components of a tire we’ve put together this diagram to give you a brief study of the structure, location, and purpose of each specific component on a tire. 1 SHOULDER The shoulder on each side of the tread is designed to protect the belt and carcass of the tire and to dissipate heat generated during running to the atmosphere. There are two basic kinds of shoulder shapes: rounded and square. 2 SIDEWALL The sidewall on each side of the tire is the section that deflects most during use. The rubber coating serves to protect the carcass and is the area where all of the notations of tire size, brand name, manufacturer, and so on, are located. 3 BEAD The bead area supports the extremities of…

1 Few of us think the end will come in the form of a wadded up T-shirt or floppy leather holster. But, it could. The Gadget replaces the Glock slide plate and adds a short arm on a hinged plate that rests on the cocked striker. Any rearward trigger movement pushes the striker back into The Gadget’s arm, raising the hinged plate. Holster the gun with your thumb on the plate, and you’ll feel (and resist) any movement of the trigger as it enters the holster. This is akin to holstering a 1911 with a thumb on the hammer. It’s not an invitation for sloppy holstering, but it might make you worry less about your favorite T-shirt killing you. MAKE: Tau Development Group MODEL: The Gadget Striker Control Device MSRP:…

They say necessity is the mother of invention. Providing assistance to those who are trained to put others first and not ask for help is indeed a unique challenge that would probably explain the absence of an organization specifically focused on the U.S. Army Special Forces (SF)…until now. The Green Beret Foundation was created to fill the void and provide direct and continuous support to the SF community and their families. “We look at each case individually and develop care and transition plans,” says Jen Paquette, executive director of the GBF. “We call this a family business, it’s Green Berets supporting Green Berets.” Paquette knows firsthand the wide gaps that exist in the system after her SF husband was injured by an IED. During that time she, her husband, fellow…

Like a character in a bad horror movie, the 9mm subgun seems destined to return time after time, despite every effort to declare it dead and buried. First, the intermediate caliber assault rifle seemed destined to replace it in every possible role. Then the microcaliber personal defense weapon, or PDW seemed to have sunk the final nail in its coffin, filling its shoes when specialist troops such as vehicle crews whined that their carbines were too big to fit inside driver compartments. Despite the very real advantages offered by 4.6 and 5.7mm rounds, the logistics chain simply didn’t need yet another caliber to source, manage, and deliver to the point of use, especially when 9mm Luger was already in the system and would do the 80 percent of the job,…

If you’ve read through the past five pages on the OIP rifle, you’ve seen what three grand (or more) will buy from a custom rifle builder. It’s a hefty price tag, but you get a purpose-built weapon that’s well-sorted, perfectly tuned, and fully optimized. But what does it take to roll your own lightweight AR-15? It’s the golden age of the AR platform, with a mind-boggling array of components available to suit every imaginable use and taste. So, utilizing freely available components and with an eye on your pocketbook, what can you pull off in your own workshop? DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS Bentwood Gunsmithing achieved extreme weight savings in their OIP carbine by lightening every part of the rifle they could. The problem for home builders is the expense…

For more information about The Wanderer, a short film by Roy Lin and Shawn Nelson, go to RECOILWeb.com/thewanderer.…

Intuition noun | in-tü-i-shen An unconscious ability to know something directly without analytic reasoning, bridging the gap between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind; between instinct and reason. Inner Voice noun | in-ner vois The method your subconscious mind uses to alert you that something is wrong, out of place, or a potential danger; powered by intuition. Federal agent Bill Henley was on special assignment in Central Park in New York City. As his partner took a bathroom break, Bill scanned out over the placid body of water. “I felt a sensation across my back that I knew was a warning of danger,” he said, recounting the 2011 incident during one of my seminars on mindset. The last time he felt this sensation was on patrol in Afghanistan…

We’ve been doing our best on the website to push training opportunities out there. We’ve also started running the occasional training pictorials, showing some of our friends, families, and trainers we respect out honing their skills and enjoying themselves. This is in keeping with the “software is better than hardware” mantra, but we also do it because you can have such a helluva good time training. There’s really no downside to increasing knowledge and proficiency, while building friendships or affirming family bonds — at least not that we can see. Watch for #honeyourskills and #rangepr0n on social media to get a better idea what we’re talking about. Also to this end we’re proud to announce the addition of three new SMEs to the lineup. You will soon be hearing the…

In the past decade, we’ve seen it all. Spinners, clear wheels, custom finishes, floating wheels, and the list goes on. Yet as wheel companies battle to build the hype, we wait each year to feature the wild and the zany, and this year it’s looking like Savini Wheels may have just lit up the competition. The introduction of the company’s new finish is sure to have you gleaming with envy. And while it’s not for everyone, it will certainly be big news for those looking to stand out and make a statement. Savini Wheels’ latest finish appears docile and standard during the day, but at night is when it comes to life. In association with Lumilor Lab, Savini Wheels teamed up to introduce an exclusive paint that illuminates when electricity…

In the past few years, gas prices may have spiked, but the one thing that’s trailed right be-hind it is the return of lifted trucks. It’s kind of ironic when you consider that these fuel-guzzling trucks work against your pocketbook, but then again, it’s just a cost to be the boss. Since the popularity of lifted trucks has returned, it comes as no surprise that other wheel companies are now scrambling to introduce their own lineup of off-road wheels—but it seems as if RBP has the game on lock. Because of its keen foresight and belief in the market, RBP started this line years back and has since become the goto brand when it comes to stylish off-road wheels. With a reputation for style and performance, RBP has created a…