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When Secondary is Primary

By on July 9, 2012 in Guns, Tactics and Training

“Handguns are only good for fighting your way back to your rifle.” You have probably heard that glib saying before. This thinking pervades the gun culture so much that handguns are sometimes referred to as “secondaries” and rifles as “primaries.” It is a succinct statement that reflects some of the truth about the inferiority of handguns as fight stoppers, but for the vast many of those who carry a handgun daily; it misses the mark by a long shot.

Most people, who carry a firearm for protection, carry a handgun. There is no rifle for them to “fight your way back to.” When the need to exercise deadly force arises, they must be able to deal with a near infinite number of dynamic situations with only the tools at hand – a handgun, their wits, and their training.

We would all prefer to have a rifle if we knew that we were walking into a gunfight. Unfortunately, that just isn’t realistic for most of us.

So What?

You may be thinking something like “So what? It is just a saying.” Unfortunately, it isn’t just a saying. People let this thinking dictate how they train with their handgun. They train at “handgun distances” and say things like “the typical (or average) gun fight happens at 7 yards (or 10 feet, or 7 feet, or…) and closer” or “if they are further than X yards away, a jury will rule it wasn’t self-defense.” There may be grains of truth in those statements but I have a feeling that, for many of us, there may be no such thing as a “typical” gun fight. The situation dictates what is and is not justified in terms the use of deadly force.

Certainly, there is no danger in studying averages and statistics in terms of gun fights – in fact, there is probably value in it. However, there may be danger in preparing for only an average or typical gun fight. If we were really that concerned with statistics and averages, we might conclude that even carrying a firearm at all is silly. After all, the overwhelming majority of people will never need to produce a weapon in self-defense.

What Does it Mean for Me?

So, if you are still reading, you may be wondering what this all means for you. How should this seemingly small philosophical change in thinking affect the way you approach training? I think the answer is probably twofold – throw the concept of “handgun distances” out the window when you are training and carefully evaluate how you spend your training time.

Throw the concept of “handgun distances” out the window when you are training. – Think about the distances at which you train with your handgun and then answer these questions. Can you quickly and reliably hit a standard sized silhouette or, better yet, a pepper popper at 100 yards (or further) with your carry handgun? Do you know your hold-overs (or for some handguns, hold-unders) for 50 and 100 yards (or further) with your carry ammo and sight combination? If you can’t answer “yes” to these questions, then start training and find out! At the very least, you will learn a ton about your fundamental handgun shooting skills, your handgun, your sights, and your ammo.

Carefully evaluate how you spend your training time. – If you were to evaluate your training time, would you find that you are guilty of spending more of your time shooting a rifle or going to carbine courses? I know I am. Yet, if I take a realistic look at the tool that I would most likely have in my hand in a self-defense situation, it’s a handgun. Carbine courses and carbine training are valuable but don’t over emphasize carbine training at the expense of handgun proficiency. I have found that when I spend a lot of time shooting my handgun, my rifle shooting tends to improve. Strangely, the opposite is not necessarily true. This may not be true for everyone but it certainly is for me. Spend the bulk of your precious training time and your hard earned training dollars, training for the most likely scenarios.

If the unthinkable happens, you will have to find a solution with just the tools at hand – which is likely just a handgun.

Wrapping it up

I am not suggesting that training at extended distances should replace or dominate your normal handgun training routine but maybe it should supplement it. It isn’t hard to incorporate these skills into your current training. You can start with something as simple as incorporating a walk back drill as a cool-down drill at the end of your training day. Not many drills will test your sight alignment and trigger control more than trying to hit a pepper popper at 75 yards or further. It would also be an good idea to take inventory of how you spend your training time and determine if it reflects the realities of your situation. Don’t neglect or overly limit the scope of your handgun training – it may just be the only tool you have at your disposal when the unexpected comes knocking.

Selecting a Battle Rifle

By on July 6, 2012 in Guns

Many serious shooters either own or are on a quest to to find the perfect battle rifle and I am no exception. My search for the perfect battle rifle began around 1998 when I decided that I wanted something more capable than the AK pattern rifle I’d acquired in my late teens. At that time I maxed out my limited finances and purchased a lightly used, all GI parts, Springfield Armory M1A from my local gun shop for about $925. Thus began the adventure that still continues to this day!

Defining MBR

For purposes of this article, I will loosely define a main battle rifle (MBR) as a detachable magazine fed, semi automatic rifle chambered in .308 that is set up to perform well in the 2-500 yard range. The military has recognized the importance of this type of rifle and has fielded an entire designated marksman program to fill the need. You may not agree with my definition and that’s OK as each person should acquire the guns and gear that best serve their needs. I understand that AK’s and AR-15’s can be pressed into this role, but the 7.62×51 semi autos of today are likely the best choice for a “ground up” solution.

Do You Really Need an MBR?

Logical, pragmatic readers may wonder if someone outside the military really needs a true MBR. In our current American reality, average, everyday people likely have little chance of needing such a rifle for defense of hearth and home. However, when reflecting upon the direction of the national and global situation, I will simply state that things that can’t last forever won’t and just because things have been the way they are today for a very long time is no guarantee for what tomorrow may hold. Ultimately, each shooter must decide his own needs.

My MBR Quest

Selecting any kind of weaponry is an extremely personal choice and there is no perfect one size fits all solution. Below is a general summary of my experiences during this quest and I share them only for the purpose of passing on what I’ve learned. I’m not trying to convince you of anything and I do not assume that my experiences represent the sum total for all weapons and equipment mentioned.

M1A – For several years I was quite happy with that M1A. To this day I know of no other rifle I would prefer if I was limited to an iron sight only configuration. However, once I began to experiment with optics the M1A’s shortcomings became clear to me. First of all, even with a top notch mount and stock I had trouble keeping a consistent zero. The rifle shot well, but the zero seemed to move with frustrating irregularity, which is a common problem with M1A’s.

Because of the way the rifle is designed a large amount of mass that hangs from the barrel reciprocates with each round fired. In a USGI stock configuration the only force holding/bedding the rifle to the stock is clamping pressure achieved by closing the trigger guard after assembly. These design factors make the rifle’s BZO quite susceptible to any changes in pressure/contact to the barrel.

I later upgraded to a SAGE stock, which initially performed much better in this regard, but one day my 300 yard zero was way off. I meticulously went through all of the many variables that affect zero and finally realized that the shim kit which replaces the standard barrel band/stock retainer had been burned into flakes by the heat from the gas port and barrel. The resulting void seemed to have allowed enough of a pressure change that eventually BZO was significantly affected.

Mounting an optic over the action of this rifle not only significantly increases the overall burden, but also presents a substantial offset between the comb of the rifle stock and where your face needs to rest. I tried different comb risers and both the SAGE and Troy stocks, which eliminate this issue, but the weight penalty was substantial and other problems continued to crop up and plague the weapons system. I also never liked the inside the trigger guard safety.

SWAT magazine did an excellent and frank review the M1A rifle in an April 2010 issue and much to the chagrin of some readers “slayed the sacred cow.” It is abundantly clear to me after my experiences that the M1A has been made obsolete as a tier 1 battle rifle choice because of the better rifle designs on the market today. After years of of work with the rifle and a lot of money spent I began to seek a more modern rifle design.

FAL – I never gave FN FAL’s a fair shake because after my M1A experiences I did not relish the idea (or expense) of trying to modernize another dated rifle design and adapt it for optics and other essential accessories. Maybe I missed out. (Speaking of weapon accessories, my 2004 tour in Iraq really cemented some essentials in my mind. Any general purpose rifle I field under any conditions will have an optic, a light, and a tactical sling.)

The next MBR candidate rifle I purchased was a Rock River Arms LAR-8. After the M1A, it was quite refreshing to have AR style controls and something that was easy to properly accessorize. It was a solid, consistent shooter and all I really had to add was a good muzzle device and a rail. However, the rifle was again a little heavy, mag changes remained stiff after a break in period, and I am still not convinced of the long term viability of the FAL mag adaptation.

When the LAR-8 was originally designed FAL mags were cheap and plentiful and seemed like a logical choice. Now that the “AR-10” world is galvanizing around the SR25 pattern magazine and surplus FAL mags supplies have nearly dried up – the game has changed. The adapted design led to unsettling issues like some surplus mags working but not others and the bolt prematurely locking to the rear with live rounds still in the magazine. While this rifle left me less than completely satisfied, I still have a lot of good things to say about it and plan to do so in an upcoming review.

At this point, I really only saw two rifles on the market that fit the role I was looking to fill, the FN SCAR H and the new LaRue rifles (OBR and PredatAR). I agonized for months over the decision and, in a lot of ways, I wanted to choose the SCAR. I liked the brand new, well thought out design but was concerned over FN’s history of poorly supporting the US civilian gun market. The SCAR magazine availability problem remains a case in point.

Last year, after a long wait, I took ownership of a LaRue PredatAR 7.62 rifle with a 16″ barrel. I will save the details for a forthcoming review, but I will say that after well over a decade’s search for the right MBR I am very happy with this rifle. It has, thus far, corrected all of the shortcomings of the previous rifles and then some. I have a lot of LaRue products on my AR-15’s and I’m pleased to report that the same quality has been carried over into their rifle line.

Wrap Up

Hopefully your MBR quest has been smoother and shorter than mine and you are very happy with the rifle you have for that role. I view the MBR as the modern equivalent to the long arms the “Minutemen” of 1775 fielded when they bravely defended the green at Lexington and the bridge at Concord. Their faith in God, sacrifice,  example of courage, and ultimate preparedness helped launch a country and form of government that remains the greatest the world has ever seen. I wish you the best if you seek to take part in this aspect of our wonderful, national heritage!

Welcome Echo Nine Three

By on July 2, 2012 in Guns, Other, Tactical Gear

We are blessed to be in a position where we can be picky about who we partner with here on JTT. The companies that you see on the right side of your screen are all companies that we trust to take care of you with great products and great service. The newest company that we are privileged to partner with is Echo Nine Three.

ARS built AKM with Echo93 V3 Sling Plate and Dual Mode Sling

Echo Nine Three offers several products and services but they are most known for their sling plates. I have and use several of them and I feel that they are the best rear sling mounting points available for AK pattern rifles. There is no better solution.

In addition to the sling plates, Echo Nine Three offers the Dual Mode Sling, training, gunsmithing, and a really slick AR-15 lower receiver. Their lowers really fill a niche that is missing on the market. There are tons of lowers on the market with crazy graphics and gaudy logos but the Echo Nine Three M416 lower receiver is plainly marked. Not everyone wants a zombie pirate holding a chainsaw laser-etched on their lower.

We’re thrilled to introduce Echo Nine Three as our newest partner here on JTT. Check out Echo93.com and the Echo Nine Three Facebook Page.

Review: Echo Nine Three Dual Mode Sling (DMS)

By on June 26, 2012 in Guns, Tactical Gear

Slings can be very simple. Some do little more than tie your rifle to your body. Slings can also be very complex with various sliders, clips, buckles, tabs, adjustments, and more. The Echo Nine Three Dual Mode Sling (DMS) is neither very simple nor very complex. It splits the difference by offering fairly basic sling functionality with a dash of modern features.

Overview

The Echo Nine Three DMS is a sling that designed to work with the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates and the standard front sling attachment of your typical AKM. It attaches via HK style snap hooks. It also offers the ability to configure the sling as a 2 point or single point sling on the fly via a piece of custom hardware that acts as a hub and allows you to attach the front snap hook to the sling itself.

The DMS is a bit different in concept than most 2 to 1 point convertible slings. Most of them are built to be 2-point slings that can function as a 1-point when needed. The DMS is designed to be a 1-point that can function as a 2-point. The 1-point functionality is the emphasis of the DMS. As a result, the 2-point sling functionality is pretty basic.

This custom piece of hardware is the key to the dual mode functionality of the DMS.

Observations from Use

The hardware makes the DMS sling work. The HK style snap hooks work very well with the AK front sling mount and the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates. They also work very well with the custom hub hardware that Echo Nine Three uses to give the DMS its 2 to 1 point functionality.

Converting the DMS to 1-point configuration is as easy as attaching the snap hook to the hub.

The DMS sits very comfortably in both configurations but really shines as a 1-point sling. It is successful as a 1 point sling thanks to how well the snap hook interfaces with the custom hub piece. The hub has straight sections instead of being rounded. These straight sections seem to encourage everything to lay flat and hold the 3 intersecting sections of the sling at comfortable angles.

In 2-point configuration, the DMS is basically just a strap. It lacks any type of quick adjustment that would allow transitions. This is due to the 1-point first design of the DMS. 2-point configuration basically just serves as a more stable carry option. If the user thinks they will need to do a lot of transitioning from shoulder to shoulder, they should put the DMS in 1-point mode and transition to their hearts content.

The DMS is designed to work with the standard AK sling mounting point at the front…

and with an Echo Nine Three Sling Plates as the rear mounting point (though it will work with any application that will accept snap hooks).

The webbing that I used has somewhat harsh edges. I carried an AK using the sling for full day of training and several other shorter sessions without issue but some users may find the edges of the webbing to be harsh against their skin. On the plus side, the webbing is fairly slick which allows it to slide easily as you manipulate your AK.

There were no durability issues at all with the DMS except for the paint wearing off the snap hooks which is to be expected. The construction quality is excellent with heavy stitching and box stitches locking everything in place. It is hard to imagine that this sling won’t last a long, long time.

I did find that the tri-glide that is used to adjust sling length can slip a bit as you are donning the sling – especially if the sling is in 2-point configuration. I am not sure if this is happens due to the tri-glide or because the webbing is fairly slick. It doesn’t slip while the sling is in use and the webbing is pulled tight. It really only happens when you are donning the sling. It happened enough to be mildly annoying. Thankfully, the tri-glide slides well enough that it is easy to adjust even when you are wearing the sling (if you lift the AK slightly to give the sling some slack).

Echo Nine Three DMS in 2-point configuration.

Wrap Up

The best thing about the DMS is its simplicity. Even though it has the modern 2 to 1 point convertible feature, it is still very simple in its individual configurations. The custom hub hardware works very well with the snap hooks and the DMS itself works very well with the Echo Nine Three Sling Plates. If you are primarily a 2-point sling user, then the DMS may not be for you. If you are primarily a 1-point sling user but are looking for something with a more stable carry option, then this will be right up your alley.

Check out the DMS on Echo93.com.

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