#Light

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 to the High Threat Concealment booth.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 and visit the Knight’s Armament booth.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 and visit the FN Herstal booth.

Miles starts by examining the Cadex M2 Cradle Mount, designed for the Browning M2. On inspection of the mount we see the zero gravity capability and the ease of use provided for manipulating the Browning M2. On top of the Browning we notice the Cadex Kolos mount integrating a recoil mitigation system and a powered ballistic reticle optic. As Miles moves to the Sheep Dog Rifle, Rob Furlong discusses the calibers offered in the new actions as well as the new chassis offered for 2018.

In today’s episode, we follow Miles to Shot Show 2018 and visit the Safariland booth to look at some new holster offerings for 2018.

Canton Ohio custom gunmaker Middlebranch Machine has released a teaser image of a new kind of suppressor, which they say is made of “carbon fiber composite” construction. Unlike previous efforts at making carbon fiber suppressors, Middlebranch Machine’s design does not seem to use a straight carbon-fiber tubing body, but appears to be 3D printed, instead. This is strongly suggested by the background of the image which shows a customized Glock with a unique looking suppressor in front of what is probably a Markforged Mark Two carbon fiber 3D printer. Mark Twos are some of the only carbon fiber 3D printing machines in the world.

Texas company True Velocity, LLC, has released the first images of their advanced lightweight polymer composite cased ammunition design via Instagram. Training company BAT Defense sent out an image of what appear to be 12.7×108, .50 BMG, and 5.56mm rounds made by True Velocity, saying that the ammunition was originally developed to reduce the weight of ammunition carried by light helicopters (such as Littlebirds).

Knight’s Armament Company has announced a new very light weight belt fed light machine gun – which they have appropriately termed the Stoner X-LMG (for “Extra Light Machine Gun). The new weapon is based on the previous Knight’s LMG, itself a development of the ARES, Inc (unrelated to ARES Defense, now called FightLite Industries) Stoner 86 LMG which itself descended from the famous Stoner 63 Light Machine Gun. Like those weapons, the new Stoner X-LMG is a 5.56mm caliber weapon, but unlike those it achieves a virtually unheard of light weight of just 8.6 pounds, unloaded. The release of the X-LMG was announced via IHS Jane’s, as well as – oddly enough – Turkish gear outlet Öztekin. From IHS Jane’s:

We are at a crossroads in small arms development. Demands for improved weapon effectiveness have reached their apex. At the same time, the soldier’s burden has grown into a crisis so pressing even the Army Chief of Staff has acknowledged it in testimony to Congress. Soon the next ammunition configuration will be decided, as new technologies open the door for a rethinking of the infantry’s most basic weapons.

Whether you’re focused on honing your tactical skills or interested in spending as many hours as possible in the woods you undoubtedly own more than a few lights. Some are simple flashlights, and more than likely there are untold numbers long forgotten in various drawers and boxes. Others are specifically made for tactics or hunting, but are handheld. And then there are the lights designed to be mounted to your firearms. Even those particular lights can be hard to find in your hoped-for design, whatever it may be. Companies such as Sightmark understand the importance of seeing what you’re after which is why they offer a full line of sights, lights, and binos. Now they’re also offering a 3000 lumen spotlight capable of getting the job done in more ways than one.

Think back to the first time you saw a weapon-mounted laser in a movie. For me, it was Terminator, when Arnold Schwarzenegger cut through a smokey room with a red beam of death. That massive device shined dimly even at short distances and probably had a sub 10 minute battery-life. Thrity years later we have the LaserMax Spartan which is the size of a match box car, includes both a green laser and a 120 lumen LED light, all with an impressive battery life.

The metallic cartridge case was invented in the 1840s, and – starting in the 1860s – its military application brought with it a host of of advantages for the soldier: Now, ammunition was self-contained, weatherproof, and durable. Yet, despite it being a massive advance, the metallic cartridge wasn’t an across the board triumph. With the addition of a metal case, ammunition became heavier, and cost more to manufacture. In the early days of metallic cartridges, military weapons were slow to fire, and fired heavy bullets that made up the overwhelming percentage of mass of the ammunition, so this advantage was small. Ironically, though, the metallic cartridge allowed the invention of faster firing designs that expended ammunition more quickly, and as ammunition caliber shrunk and average bullet weight dropped, the percentage of mass contained in the metallic case grew.

SIG SAUER recently announced the introduction of the ECHO1 – a thermal reflex sight produced by its Electro-Optics division. According to the company, the new sight offers “military grade technology at consumer grade pricing.”

Considering the popularity of laser / light combination illuminators in the market, I was always perplexed with the various laser manufacturers opted to to only release lasers for the sub-compact and non-railed handguns in the market. With the cost of LEDs being near nothing, it was boggling, especially with common handgun usage being in low-light situations.

2A Armament, known for their ultra-light Balios-lite receiver set and rifle for the intermediate caliber AR-15, has upped the offering to full battle-rifle calibers with their Xanthos-Lite receiver set. The new recevier set, introduced and sold as matched pairs (due to the large variation of specifications within the .308 world) is geared for “large-frame” parts and components (meaning DPMS LR-308 or “Gen-1” components).