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Review: Fiocchi 7.62×39 FMJ

By on October 17, 2011 in Guns, Reviews, Tactics and Training

To my knowledge, none of my AKs have ever digested a single piece of brass cased ammo… until recently. The folks at BulkAmmo.com offered to send me some Fiocchi 7.62×39 123 gr. FMJ for testing and I jumped at the chance.

This Fiocchi 7.62×39 123 gr. FMJ features boxer primed brass cases. The boxes are marked “Made in Hungary.” I was given 2 boxes that contained 20 rounds each which isn’t a lot of ammo for a test but I was able to form some immediate opinions.

My first impression was that the ammo looked much, much nicer than the typical AK fodder that I shoot. The cartridges were clean and seemed to be consistent in overall length (not always the case with some 7.62×39).

When shooting, my impression was that it seemed a bit hotter (sharper recoil) than some of the steel cased ammo that I typically shoot. This was also seen when I checked the targets since the Fiocchi ammo’s point of impact (POI) was higher than that of the typical steel cased ammo that I shoot. I am actually very pleased that this is the case since much of the steel cased ammo on the market is under-loaded. There were no signs of over pressure.

The ammo was also noticeably more accurate than what I typically shoot. In the target picture above, there are two groups. The photo above shows two distinct groups. The lower 8 shots were shot relatively quickly from a rest at 50 yards. Accuracy was good save for the two pulled shots at 3 and 4 o’clock. I made some adjustments, slowed down, and fired a final 3 shot group (I generally prefer 5, or better yet, 10 shot groups, but I was out of ammo). Those are the 3 shots that you see around the bull. The rifle used was a converted Saiga with an Aimpoint H1 mounted on an Ultimak rail. This rifle shoots well with good ammo and the Fiocchi proved to be good ammo.

It looks nice and it shoots well, but I was probably most struck by how clean it was. This ammo is not nearly as smoky as much of the steel cased 7.62×39 that is on the market. It also doesn’t smell as bad. Steel cased ammo often smells terrible, almost like cat urine, when it is being shot but the Fiocchi smells normal. With the lack of smoke and smell, it should come as no surprise that this ammo shot much cleaner than steel cased ammo. There was very little clean up to be done after 40 rounds of the Fiocchi versus 40 rounds of steel cased ammo – granted, it was just 40 rounds but the difference was noticeable.

40 rounds is a small sample size with which to form an opinion on the quality of ammo, but the hallmarks of quality are there. This Fiocchi 7.62×39 ammo is clean and consistent externally, it features boxer primed brass cases, it shoots accurately, and doesn’t leave a mess. It is definitely a very different and much better experience than what I am used to with the typical steel cased ammo on the market.

You can check out this Fiocchi 7.62×39 and other 7.62×39 Ammo at BulkAmmo.com.

Disclosure: This ammo was sent to me by BulkAmmo.com, free of charge, for review.

New Carrier Portable and Self Staking from TacStrike

By on September 28, 2011 in Guns, Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

More and more outdoor shooting ranges that I have been to are starting to charge for using their target stands. They usually do this to defray the cost of the target stands that are destroyed by goobers who give all gun owners a bad name. What if you could bring your own super durable target stands that packed small enough to fit in a backpack? That is what the new Carrier Portable and Self Staking target stands from TacStrike let you do.

These aren’t just for organized ranges either. If you have access to public or private land, you can use these stands to turn any suitable location into a range. If that suitable spot is fairly long walk from your vehicle, that is no problem thanks to how the stand can be packed down into a small package.

You won’t need to carry sandbags or other weights either since the Carrier Portable and Self Staking is designed with legs that can be staked into the ground. This provides a tip free base even in the wind. If the soil is hard, the base is durable enough to handle being driven with a small sledge.

You can use furring strips as the target uprights. The Carrier Portable and Self Staking will accept either 2″x2″ or 1″x2″ furring strips by adjusting a tension screw to fit. The use of furring strips is a great feature for stands like this. They are light weight, inexpensive to replace when you shoot one, and can be easily cut to any height.

The Carrier Portable and Self Staking is simple, well designed, and extremely portable. Check it out on the TacStrike website.

 

Pocket Carry Viability

By on September 26, 2011 in EDC, Guns, Tactics and Training

“Pocket carry” is a method of concealed carry where a handgun is concealed in the wearer’s pocket. This carry method requires a handgun that is actually small enough to carry in a typical pants pocket and its popularity has increased as the market continues to be flooded with sub-compact handguns. It is my intention to have an honest discussion about pocket carry, its advantages, its disadvantages, and its viability as a carry method.

Holsters

Let’s get one thing out of the way before we delve too deeply into this discussion. I will assume in this post that we are referring to pocket carry with the use of a holster that is purpose built for pocket carry. I would never consider carrying a handgun in my pocket without a holster that completely covers the trigger guard – anything less is a negligent discharge waiting to happen. A holster will also help prevent the intrusion of pocket lint and other debris into your handgun.

Holsters that are designed for pocket carry will have some method of keeping the holster in the pocket during the draw stroke. If your pocket carry holster tends to come out with the handgun when you practice your draw stroke on the range, throw it out and buy a different design.

Advantages

There are some advantages to consider when discussing pocket carry. The most obvious are comfort and convenience. It is extremely convenient to be able to drop a holstered handgun into your pocket and it is typically a very comfortable way to carry a handgun. While comfort and convenience are nice, there are many far more important factors to consider when choosing a carry method. Clint Smith wisely said that carrying a gun “is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.”

Two other advantages to pocket carry that are rarely mentioned but are, in my mind, the most compelling advantages that this carry method offers are the ability to appear complacent and the ability to appear compliant while indexing your handgun.

Consider a situation where you are walking through a parking garage and you see someone approaching while holding an object that you can’t identify in the dim lighting. You can’t just pull your shirt up and put your hand on your gun. That would be irresponsible since you haven’t identified a threat yet. However, you could place your hands in your pockets and appear to be complacent while you are actually establishing a firing grip on your handgun and preparing to draw if necessary. That is the ability to appear complacent and it can be a tremendous advantage.

Now consider the same situation except this time you don’t see the person approaching. They get the drop on you and they want to force you into your car at gunpoint. The situation is grave and your mind is telling you that you will need to fight back in order to live. You reach into your pocket to appear compliant by “getting your keys” and instead you index your handgun and prepare to defend your life. This ability to appear compliant might buy you the split seconds that you need to produce your handgun and defend your life.

Disadvantages

Before we get carried away by the compelling advantages of pocket carry, we should take an honest look at some very compelling disadvantages.

A pocket can be a terrible environment to store a handgun. It can be humid and dirty. Even when you clean your pockets, reliability threatening lint forms quickly. Great care must be taken to clear the handgun of all lint and grit before it works its way into the barrel or lock work.

Drawing a handgun from a pocket will generally take longer than producing one from the belt. The hand must slip into the pocket quickly which can be a bit tricky and the pockets sit lower than the belt which extends the draw stroke. Drawing from a pocket does not take very much longer than drawing from concealment but it does take longer. We generally try to reduce the time and increase the efficiency of our draw stroke. Pocket carry does the opposite.

A handgun that is carried in the pocket can be difficult to access with both hands. Even a mildly flexible person can access a handgun from a belt holster with their support hand but a pocket is a different story. It can be done but it is not easy, efficient, or graceful.

It can be difficult to access a pocket carry handgun while seated. When you are seated, your pockets are typically drawn tight which makes it difficult to get your hand into the pocket. It also changes the angle of the draw in a way that makes it all but impossible to draw your handgun without pointing it directly at your leg.

Finally, pocket carry gives you one less pocket to carry other gear. That may seem like a small thing but think about it. You should never carry anything in your pocket with your handgun. That is an accident waiting to happen and it could impede your draw stroke. The pocket that you will carry your handgun in is probably also the pocket that you clip your knife in or where you carry your keys. You will have to make other arrangements for these items and then carry them that way consistently so that you don’t reach into your pocket to get your keys and pull out a handgun instead. Don’t laugh. It happens.

Viable or Not?

So where does all of this discussion leave us? Is pocket carry a viable carry method or not? I can only answer for myself and say, “it depends.” In my opinion, based on the discussion above, pocket carry is not a suitable primary carry method but it can be an acceptable method for carrying a back up handgun. By carrying your back up with this method you can leverage the advantages of pocket carry while mitigating the disadvantages because it is not your only handgun.

Pocket carry is a compromise. You are exchanging a smooth, reliable draw stroke for comfort and convenience. That is a lousy trade but in some cases it may be an acceptable trade. I limit my use of pocket carry to a back up role. You will have to decide for yourself.

The Incredible Safety Pin

By on September 15, 2011 in Survival, Tactics and Training

I have kept safety pins tucked away in my EDC bags and range gear for years now. They are small, weigh almost nothing, and can be stowed in really out of the way places. They also happen to be useful for a myriad of tasks like impromptu clothing and gear repairs. The only thing that I ever used them for that was even remotely like a medical procedure was picking splinters.

Tac Med Solutions, makers of some of my favorite medical kit items like the OLAES Modular Bandage and the SOF-T Tourniquet, has a video on Youtube that shows just how versatile a safety pin can be as an addition to your first aid kits. This is improvised gutter medicine at its finest.

After you watch the video, you absolutely should subscribe to their Youtube channel. It is tremendously informational and they have videos that detail the use of many of their products. These videos can be an invaluable training aid (though not a replacement for actual in person training).

Review: Arc’teryx Baller Ass Cap

By on August 22, 2011 in Reviews, Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

I consider a hat with a brim an almost mandatory safety item when on the range. It keeps sun and hot brass off your face and out of your eyes. Ballcaps are the most common type of hat you see on a range due to their proliferation in our everyday lives and because they work. However, since I was a young man playing soccer and even now, my body temperature tends to run fairly hot which makes some hats nearly unbearable to wear in the warmer months. When I set out to find a better ballcap my search lead me to Arc’teryx and the Baller Ass Cap (BAC).

The mesh construction is what drew me immediately to the BAC. 4 of the 6 panels used in the construction of the hat are made from a slightly stretchy mesh material. The mesh lets the hat breath far more than a typical ballcap. The difference in how quickly this hat allows me to shed heat versus an all cotton hat is very noticeable. This hat solved a problem for me. That is what good gear does – it solves problems.

The BAC is also extremely comfortable to wear thanks to the FLEXFIT design. Most of you will likely be familiar already with FLEXFIT hats. They look like fitted ballcaps from the outside but inside they feature a comfortable elastic band that fits the hat to your head.

While the BAC is similar to some off the shelf offerings from FLEXFIT, it isn’t exactly like anything that you can buy from FLEXFIT. Arc’teryx made sure that this had some features that set it apart and made it more shooter oriented. It is available in either black or tan unlike the typical FLEXFIT hats which are more brightly colored. The BAC also lacks a button on the crown which is an important feature for those who wear ear muff style hearing protection on the range.

Finally, the BAC features a patch panel for name tapes or patches. The panel has the Arc’teryx logo embroidered into it in color that matches the hat for a very low profile look. If you dislike garish logos on your gear, you will appreciate this hat.

Arc’teryx has created a near perfect warm weather training hat with the BAC. Now that I have worn one for a while, it is hard to imagine wearing a different hat during a hot summer day on the range. Sure, its just a hat but it also an example of combining the right features to make an everyday object more functional.

You can read more about the Arc’teryx Baller Ass Cap on the Arc’teryx LEAF website. I purchased mine at Grey Group Training.

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