“In the real world… there is no respawn.”

Lancer Systems, known for their fantastic* AWM magazines and advanced composite works, has announced an update to their OEM series of handgaurds for both SIG and HK firearms. The new update transitions the carbon fiber handguard offerings to Magpul’s M-LOK system for greater compatibility with accessories. The platforms included in this update include the Sig516, Sig716, and HK416 OEM-replacement units. Offerings for Sig’s MPX and MCX have already received the update.

TFB TV pairs up with Callum from English Shooting, a British Channel devoted to discussing the shooting sports in the United Kingdom. Callum talks about the differences between a Firearms and Shotgun Certificate, the various options out there when it comes to semi-automatic, pump action shotguns in addition to all things .22 LR which is very popular in Britain due to the laws not covering the cartridge. In addition we receive some excellent information on the cap & ball firearms in the UK, which are also extremely popular.

I recently picked up an Armasight AIM, which is a novel way of outfitting a rifle with night vision capability. If you’re already intimately familiar with night vision systems (Say, if you know what the pots are and where to find them) and just want to hear about the AIM, scroll down to the first through-the-tube night vision image. Otherwise, read on and lets think together about shooting things in the dark…

An odd product that has appeared on Republic of Korea (ROK) Army K1A and K2 rifles in recent years is this brass catcher. Outside of a few dedicated reloaders in the United States, brass catchers are very seldom used at all anywhere else in the world. However in the ROK army, spent brass has a much higher importance than in most other militaries. Soldiers are required to turn in every piece of brass that they fired during a training  regime or else face severe consequences. The reasoning behind this is the army’s strict control over ammunition consumption and reloading ammunition. Behind that regulation has to do with serious problems the ROK Army has with hazing, suicide rates, and soldiers making off with rounds for criminal activities. Thus, ROK soldiers have to turn in every single casing fired while on a live fire range, confirming it by also counting every single one. Many of us in the Military or LE are used to long lines of “Police Call”, where we would line up after a training event, sweeping the grounds for brass, collecting it and turning it back in. However the difference was that we didn’t count every single case when we turned them, it was enough to make the range reasonably cleaner than when we arrived at it. 

Mr. Teemu Rintala is the Nordic Champion in IPSC Rifle 2016 and shoots for the GP Rifle Team. He just got the (fairly) new Swarovski Z8i 1-8x scope with the two different reticles BRT-I and LD-I to compare and he allowed TFB to share his views and photos.

Primary Machine has dropped some new Glock compensators that look eerily like the KKM Two Port compensator (I currently have one in for evaluation, review coming soon). This isn’t the first Glock comp to be launched that is reminiscent of the proven KKM style, Texas Black Rifle Company was the first offshoot with the Micro Comp. Scoff at the addition of an external compensator if you like, but there are benefits like keeping the lens of a flashlight clean or reducing recoil. I know for a fact that a good comp can tame a 9mm to where it feels like you are shooting a .22 making follow up shots lightning fast.

This past Friday I received an email from my friend, Jay Jacobson, president of Franklin Armory. As you may know, Franklin Armory makes a very well thought out binary trigger that was accepted and approved by the BATF without reservation.

The GL-Core stock from Fab Defense uses a novel system of polymer inserts to change the stock between milspec and commercial diameter buffer tubes.

Weapon lights have evolved in the past 10-15 years and obviously LEDs have been a big part of the transformation. Battery life, ruggedness, size and light output are at the top of the list for advantages over their incandescent kin. LUCID Optics has just joined the illumination game with the C3: a dual LED weapon light that pushes out 300 lumens.

While I was at Keith’s machine shop, he showed me this clamp on compensator for a S&W K38 revolver. The do not seem to be that common although i have found some mention of it online.

The long awaited Spuhr stock assembly for the G3/MP5/HK33/53 is now finally available.

Earlier on TFB we reported on the transition from MILES to DISE within EUCOM. However, it must be noted that the MILES system is still in use, even if sparingly. In fact, during Swift Response ’16, a multi-national airborne training operation, we have seen some of the most recent usages of the updated versions of the MILES gear. Most of the upgrades appear to be in weight reduction, with soldiers carrying less cumbersome and bulky versions of the personally worn vest. However there is another introduction that has the MILES Small Arms Transmitter taking advantage of the picatinny rail installed on most of the U.S. Army’s weapon systems. From a distance the Small Arms Transmitter could easily be mistaken for a black PEQ15 ATPIAL instead of the training device that it is. Since the 1980s MILES has gone through a number of manufacturers throughout its design phases, however most recently Cubic Global Defense is providing the latest iterations of the design, to include the picatinny mounted Small Arms Transmitter. From Cubic Global Defense-

Images from a joint European/ U.S. lead paratrooper training exercise named Swift Response in June of 2016 have shown that the Rheinmetall Defense Light Laser Module Mk.3 is being used on operations with the British Paratroopers, aka “Paras”. Initially the LLM Mk.3 was procured by the Ministry of Defense for the Royal Marines in 2014 under a £53 million purchase of a number of other items. However, it appears that the Marines haven’t been using the picatinny mounted ATPIAL on operations outside of Britain, or at least images and news reports of the branch do not show them being used. Their issue among the Paras could possibly be because the Marines ended up not liking the devices, and transferred them to the Parachute Regiment, or this could possibly be a completely different purchase altogether. We have some reports of the Marines using the device in training with this sketch from a Commando Course blog entry recently-

The Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) has been in service with a number of militaries the world over, beginning in the 1980s. MILES has gone through a number of different design iterations over the years, to include making the system more compact and light weight. For those unfamiliar with the system essentially it is a training simulation Laser Tag Pro, being able to be outfitted to individual soldiers, vehicles, even aircraft. When using blanks in small arms or larger caliber weapons, the system shoots out a laser when the blank is fired. If the laser impacts the MILES gear on an opposing force, the system of that force shuts down, thus registering a “Kill”. The concept for the program is a brilliant one, but it saw a number of issues that retarded its potential. From the gear causing neck problems, to being unreliable at times, and most importantly cost. Throughout my time in the infantry, I never once utilized or even saw MILES gear in use at all.

One of the unique items Keith had in his machine shop was this clamp on Line-O-Site. It is a very basic cross hair that bolts onto the barrel of a rifle. Have any of our readers used one of these before? It seems so simple but I am curious how effective it is to just standard iron sights. I also wonder what calibers this could be used on. I would probably only use it on rimfire rifle.

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Thanks to my friend Tom for introducing me to Keith Biddle of Keith Products Co. He is a machinist that is only 5 miles from my house. Keith picked up machining from his father. Mostly self taught, Keith has been machining for most of his life.

At IDEX 2017, FN Herstal introduced several upgrades to the companies Fire Control Unit Mk3, designed to mount to a picatinny rail, and provide a laser range finder/holographic sight and a UBGL launcher. Although the unit is seen mounted on a SCAR 17 with FN’s picatinny mounted GL-1 UBGL, it can be made to work with any launcher on the Military/LE market or in current issue (as long as there is picatinny rail estate). Some features currently with the older Mk3 include automatically adjusted point of aim, indication of weapon cant, pressure pad activated laser range finding, and a reticle with day and night targeting abilities. The Gen 3 version provides a quick attach portion to the rail, larger holographic window, smaller dimensions, less battery power usage, and improved laser ranging abilities. In addition it offers a training safe laser portion, something many militaries require for training at home. The unit is powered by a single CR123 battery, and can reach out to 1000 meters. Although this is almost triple the distance of most 40x46mm grenades in use, it does offer the user an accurate range finder for other applications, or in a worst case scenario where primary range finders go down.

There is a pistol concept floating around some circles (primarily among members of Primary & Secondary) that has been lovingly dubbed the Roland Special. Basically, the Roland Special is a highly modified Glock 19 that mimics race gun performance in a size that is still manageable for duty or even concealed carry use.

Bipods, a simple construction with two legs to support your rifle and hopefully help you make a better shot. But also what sets men and shooters apart, and drains wallets.

Brigham Young University has taken a unique approach to solving a problem for law enforcement. Many departments seek to have protective barriers or shields available in their vehicles. Many are too heavy, too cumbersome, or flat out do not work. BYU has applied the principles of origami to make something truly original.

You can now get more modern with your HK91, HK33, and clones of those rifles with M-LOK and KEYMOD handguards. Whether you have GI variants, carbine length, or rifle length, there are now handguards out there that open up a Pandora’s box of accessories to you.

Elite Survival Systems introduced a number of new products at the 2017 SHOT Show. Among them are three backpacks, each aimed at a different segment of the market. They are the ECHO, the Tenacity-72 and the Guardian.

Bravo Concealment reached out to Phil at the start of December to see if we wanted to put one of their Kydex outside the waistband holsters to the test. As the Senior Breaker-Of-Things, I was elected as the most likely to break or damage the holster during what I consider “normal” use and was sent one of Bravo Concealment’s BCA holster combos. Thankfully Bravo allowed me to configure the holster as I wanted to match my Glock …. or what it is on a journey to becoming.

When it comes to reloading, we are always looking for tools to make our lives easier. Whether its making a step automated or cutting out some extra, precious time in the whole procedure. So when new tools hit the market, most reloaders investigate them intently to see if it can improve their personal setup.

I stumbled across this picture of an odd 1911 drum magazine. It looks like is made of multiple 1911 magazines in a rotary style setup.

There are plenty of examples of people building replica guns and accessories from Lego parts. But, have you seen what the folks at Mini-Arms are creating?

Plinker is an automated target company that is bringing to market a dual target system that can be swung into place and controlled off a electronic device. It works off of a pneumatic operated canister that propels the target frame into and out of place. The system is specifically designed for Law Enforcement application because it can replicate a Shoot-No Shoot scenario by first introducing a Shoot target with a firearm printed, and then introducing a No Shoot target with a hostage image printed on it. In addition, the system is really just a dual target holder, so it can really be used with any sort of target attached to frames that can be inserted into the target system. For an example anything fitting the dimensions of an IDPA target can be used if one wants to. From the description-

Vorn Equipment has an interesting quick release for their rifle backpacks.