#Le
Geissele Wins Customs And Border Protection Contract
Geisslele Automatics won a contract to supply AR-15 rifles to Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This new contract includes both complete rifles and upper receiver groups. Let’s take a look at the specifics of this contract, and what it might mean for Geissele’s future civilian offerings.
[TFB GUNFEST] LMT's Shot Counter Grip Module For Military And LE
Lewis Machine & Tool’s Estonian rifle contract has been news for some time, of which TFB has covered, but the LMT Shot Counter technology that was also rolled out with that rifle hasn’t attracted much attention. One reason for the lack of coverage could be the lack of marketability for non-military and police users. However, during TFB’s GunFest 2021 coverage, Joe from LMT went into further discussion about what the Shot Counter is capable of, which is much more than just round counting. Firearm aficionados should be able to appreciate it even if it’s outside of their budget or needs.
Kosovo Special Response LE Teams with Barrett M107A1s, B&T APRs
Recent images have shown that the Regional Operational Support Unit teams of the Kosovo LE service are currently fielding .50 BMG M107A1 Barrett anti-materiel rifles and Brügger & Thomet 7.62x51mm NATO APRs in their precision rifle inventories. The rifles were unveiled during the Kosovo Independence Day Celebrations held in February of this year while the unit was marching on parade. The rifles were pictured in being carried by officers dressed in digital woodland camouflage uniforms. But this appears to be part of the attire for the parade, apparently illustrating an urban black uniform and then a winter uniform.
[SHOT 2018] Virtra and Haley Strategic D7
A few years ago I went to the Vehicle and Darkness D3 course with Haley Strategic. At this course, students learn how to fine-tune fundamentals while manipulating lights and shooting in and around vehicles. A vehicle ballistics lab was also very informative. After the course, I realized how detailed and intricate these scenarios could get. I would have been very surprised to find a course that could top the knowledge I had learned over those three days.
[SHOT 2018] Ops-Core's New Fast SF Helmet Line
Ops-Core is releasing a new line of Fast Helmets in both ballistic and carbon fiber. The ballistic version will first be released with an MSRP of $1700 and weighs lighter than its predecessor. A sales rep at the Ops-Core booth said the SF was 6% lighter when compared to the Maritime helmet.
Turkish Company UTS to Produce 5.56mm and 9mm AR15 Clones
UTS Defense, known for their commercial pump action 12 gauge shotguns in the United States has featured a promotional image on the Turkish website ( not the U.S. one though) that shows a 5.56x45mm AR15 derivative titled the UT512 and a 9x19mm version titled UT9S. The promotion had the simple title of “Coming Soon” at the top, probably in time for SHOT 2018. It would appear that both of these designs have the intent of Military or LE application due to neither of them being legal in Turkey for civilian use, and both would at least be classified as SBRs if imported in the United States. Apart from a few different features, both weapons share the same handguard design, charging handles, BUIS sights, pistol grips, and similar but different telescoping stocks and flash hiders. Both appear to have ambidextrous magazine releases, in addition to what most likely are ambidextrous safety selectors. The handguard is very Midwest Industries-esque with the two bolts at the rear, gas tube vents,
NEW Hornady Law Enforcement: TAP, Sub-X & Critical Duty Ammo Selections
Target shooters, hunters and those who conceal carry for their own personal protection often seek out and use specialty ammo; ammunition that is created by manufacturers for specific applications. To that same extent, law enforcement can have specific needs based on their intended use in the field. To fill that need, a category of Hornady Law Enforcement ammunition exists. Ammo that supports tactical applications in a wide array of calibers. Some new offerings Hornady will be presenting to law enforcement in 2018 will come through their TAP (Tactical Application Police) and Critical Duty series.
Spokane Police Adopt Rifle Suppressors to Curb Hearing Damage
Officers of the Spokane Police Department are set to be issued suppressors for their patrol rifles. The Department says the move is an effort to protect officers and civilian bystanders’ hearing. Spokane PD will equip all 181 of their patrol rifles with Gemtech suppressors in a contract worth $115,202 recently signed off by Spokane’s City Council. This marks the first time a police department has deployed suppressors across all its patrol rifles.
AX50s now in Service with Turkish Law Enforcement
The Turkish national law enforcement special response teams (Police Special Operations Department, Polis Özel Harekât Dairesi) have recently adopted Accuracy International’s .50 BMG AX50 anti-material rifle according to Aybars, a Turkish defense analyst on Twitter. Mentions of this upcoming sale were made in the early part of June, but recently he posted photos and videos confirming the presence of AX50s within the PÖH response units. One image showed an AX50 being fired with a suppressor mounted, on a shooting rest made by a local Turkish company, Trapmak.
[DSEi 2017] Mobile Ballistic Shields on Trolleys
Morgan Advanced Materials has come out with a Mobile Shield, mounted on a trolley. The company calls it the LASA Ballistic Shield Mobile Variant, and has recently showcased it at DSEi 2017 in London. Essentially a modification of various ballistic panels out there on the market today, this product is attempting to provide Military/LE forces with a mobile capability of protection, being able to advance towards a known enemy threat while being protected. Currently the shield is rated to NIJ 0108.01 Level III for multiple hits, while still maintaining a weight of 78.4 kilograms (172.8 pounds) with the full extent of options that can be added, trolley included. From the Morgan Advanced Materials product description-
Malaysian LE Teams Continue Counter-Terror Training
Earlier we reported on the Malaysian Counter-Terrorism Exercise Rimau that took place in a stadium and show-cased a number of Law Enforcement units rarely seen in the public sphere. Continuing the exercise with this post we have units that were present in the earlier exercise and thus receive a much more well-rounded view of their capabilities and small arms. It appears that blank firing adaptors weren’t utilized during these drills, so all of the scenarios were completed without a force on force component. All photographs are attributed to the Royal Malaysian Police Facebook page. Our faithful TFB reader Azril sent us this narrative-
Malay Counter-Terror Teams Prep For SEA Games
In preparation for the 29th South East Asia (SEA) Games being held in Kuala Lumpur, Royal Malaysian Police held Exercise Rimau 2017, a public counter-terror exercise designed to prepare law enforcement for worst case scenarios that could take place during the SEA games. Some of the situations appear to have been a VIP armed escort out of a hostile environment, an NBC or bomb attack, and assaulting an enemy hardpoint. Three Malay LE units in particular were pointed out by a TFB reader that were training in the event, the General Operation Force, VAT 69 (69 Commando), and Unit Tindak Khas (UTK). A mixture of small arms were in use, mostly various AR variants and some handguns. We’ll try to outline of the tactics, techniques, and procedures in use throughout the exercise, in addition to the small arms. Earlier we reported on Sultan Muhammad V of Malaysia being into competition shooting. The question begs to be asked if his shooting hobby allows a larger budget to be set aside for Malay Military/LE forces to be better armed than their counterparts in neighboring Indonesia or Thailand.