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Archive | Tactics and Training

When Training and Manufacturing Meet

By on July 22, 2015 in Guns, Tactics and Training

When training and manufacturing meet, problems are solved.

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You may remember a post earlier this year about a lightweight AR-15 carbine that weighed 5.5 pounds and had a target price of around $1000. That carbine was the result of 3 companies coming together to provide a unique training solution for a shooter that lost an arm in accident. KE Arms, GWACS Armory, and Suarez International all had a hand in this very cool project. Each used their products and experience to not just create a new piece of hardware but also provide the training necessary to use it. I strongly encourage you to check out Russell Phagan’s short write-up on the experience, the gear, and the VERY cool sling charging setup that they created to allow for easier one hand charging.

The best news is that we may all be able to benefit from the lessons learned in this project as the carbine in question will enter production as the Suarez Light Fighter Rifle. The Light Fighter Rifle will have a price tag of above the $1000 mentioned in the early design phase of the carbine due to the inclusion of their single stage cassette style trigger, muzzle device, and a low mass bolt carrier. GWACS Armory will eventually be offering a version that will come in around $1000.

I can see the sling setup being a big help in getting injured people back on the range.

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Public Service Announcement: Turn Your Steel Targets

By on July 11, 2015 in Tactics and Training

This excellent PSA comes via the head honcho at TacStrike, Rob Tackett. The image below is a steel plate that had to be taken out of service far earlier than it should have due to excessive warping. As bullet strikes add up on a plate, it begins to warp with the outer edges bending toward the direction of fire. The warping shown in the image below is extreme and can only be accomplished via lots and lots of bullet strikes. This target has become unsafe to shoot due to the unpredictable way ricochets may come off the plate.

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The simple fix to this problem is to turn your plate around and shoot at the other side for a while. This will halt the warping in one direction and begin to push it back into shape. You should be turning your steel targets at regular intervals. Consider it part of their preventative maintenance just like keeping them painted to avoid rust and greasing various hinges and bolts to prevent seizing.

All steel targets will warp like this eventually. It is important to choose a target that was designed by someone who understands this and has manufactured their targets to allow the plate to be turned easily.

TacStrike Goes Back to Their Roots

By on June 19, 2015 in Tactics and Training

TacStrike-LogoTacStrike started out as a builder of steel targets for people who trained others or trained hard themselves. They are going back to those roots by significantly trimming their target offerings down to those that fit their mission and by reducing prices in a big way.

From TackStrike:

Roanoke, VA – June 19th 2015 – TacStrike Systems, a leading target manufacturer and retailer, is pleased to announce a return to the core principles that made TacStrike the trainer’s choice. This move is the culmination of many influences and a desire to serve shooters more efficiently and with lower pricing. A previous move to expand the target line to be all things to all shooters dilutes our goal and makes us appear to be just another target maker. However, by redirecting focus back to the foundation of the company, streamlining and eliminating the clutter TacStrike will be serving you faster, more affordably and with proven items for your training.
As of today TacStrike’s target lineup consists of a dozen items. Targets proven by the industry’s leading instructors to be the best for the job of training fighters. This streamlined approach allows a significant reduction in prices, by more than a third in some cases, speed up delivery times and handle your needs both before and after a sale with more care.
When your rifle costs a months salary and a case of ammo is equal to a romantic weekend getaway getting quality targets at a price that doesn’t break the bank makes everyone a more motivated shooter. So here is an sample of the new prices
1/4 Scale Steel Target Systems are now $175. Down from $220
1/4 Scale Ultra Lites Steel Targets are now $155. Down from $199
Full Size Steel Target Systems are now $299.95. Down from $399
4 Packs of Arch Frame Target Carriers are now $99.95. Down from $150
With the movement to this pricing structure there are now two pricing structures. The manufacturing cost and retail. Low costs and streamlined like this makes the everyday ordering procedures simple for everyone. When a quantity of item(s) is needed shipping shifts from individual boxes to pallets and freight shipping which can save even more when outfitting a range.
TacStrike’s superb quality and craftsmanship hasn’t changed and the NO BS Warranty is still in place. If you ever experience a problem with a product TacStrike will work with you to make it right as fast and painless as possible.

So join an industry leader as quality, price and customer service take a front seat to low cost, low quality alternatives.

ATAT Development Group

By on June 9, 2015 in Guns, Tactics and Training

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Vince Buckles, previously of Red Jacket Firearms and currently with Mesa Kinetic Research, has launched a training company called ATAT Development Group. Given Vince’s background with the AK family of carbines it should come as no surprise that AKs are more than welcome in his courses. His vision was to start ATAT so that AK and AR shooters could receive training side by side without one group feeling like they were slowing the other down. He and co-instructor Greg Carlson are able to give parallel instruction during their courses on both popular carbines, addressing not only the universal fundamentals of shooting but also the intricacies inherent with shooter’s choice of carbine.

ATAT Development Group operates out of a large facility in southern Louisiana. They offer a variety of courses included general carbine courses, AK specific courses, and others which are in development. For more information about courses, visit the ATAT Development Group Facebook page.

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