SWAT Magazine: Weapons, Tactics, Training

To paraphrase Clint Smith, you carry a handgun in case you find yourself in a fight. If you know you're going to a fight, you take a rifle. And, to some folks, nothing says "rifle" like a semiautomatic chambered for the venerable .308 Winchester cartridge.

With that thought in mind, we're proud to bring you a round-up of the current crop of true battle rifles. The reports include DSA's FAL-type SA-58 carbine, DPMS' AR-type Panther, Springfield's new SOCOM 16 based on the ubiquitous M1A, Armalite's AR-10 A4, and Heckler and Koch's G3.

Other articles of interest to riflemen are the features The Best Of Clint Smith, which focuses on his Urban Rifle course, and an article on the GSA AR-15 match carbine. In an historical feature, The American Rifleman: A Dying Breed, we examine whether the skills of real riflemen are fading into the past.

The icing on the cake in this "rifle" issue is the chance to win a D&L Sports custom CQB Carbine!

To the chagrin of the good guys, however, most deadly encounters do not take place at long range, but rather up close—and very personal. To that end, this month's issue includes a feature on self-defense situations in and around vehicles, an article on up-close executive protection details, and even one feature on how to make emergency egress from an aircraft under combat conditions.

You'll find all of the above and much, much more in the current issue. From short-barreled revolvers to 12 gauge slugs, the April issue has something for everyone!


The Briefing Room:
Your Civic Duty...
Denny Hansen
Up Close And Personal:
Tactical Innovation
Jeff Gonzales
Street Smarts:
The Old Ball Game
Brent Wheat
Enemy At The Gate:
Who Should Fight The War On Terror?
Richard W. Stevens
Training & Tactics:
Gambling With Tactics
Louis Awerbuck

Mail Room:

Letters from our Readers

Staff

Lawful Carry:

Maxpedition Thermite Versipack

Flint Hansen

Long Guns:

Pros And Cons Of The AK-47

Leroy Thompson

The Skunk Works:

Laserblaster Marksmanship Training

Eugene Nielsen

The Cutting Edge:

New Line of Tactical Folders From MOD

Eugene Nielsen

Off Beat:

Small Gauge Shotguns

Steve Malloy

The Gear Locker:

New Products and Accessories

Staff

Training Calendar:

Get The Scoop on Upcoming Training Courses

Staff

Previous tables of contents and featured articles can be found in the Archives ...

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April 2004 Cover

The Best Of Clint Smith
World renown as a pistol trainer, Clint Smith excels at teaching individuals how to use a carbine in urban settings. Find out why he is known in some circles as the Father of practical riflecraft.

by Marty Hayes

DSA's SA-58 Carbine: Powerful, Compact, Reliable
With the possible exception of the AK-47, more countries have adopted the FAL-type rifle than any other. With the introduction of this carbine-sized .308, it may be the epitome of what a battle rifle should be.

by Denny Hansen

DPMS Panther: A .308 AR-Type Rifle
The DPMS Panther was tested with seventeen different match loads. So how did it perform? How about one 2.47-inch group at 500 yards!

by Steve Malloy

Win a D&L Sports CQB Carbine!
This month's sweepstakes offers one lucky winner a custom-made carbine from D&L Sports. Also included is a Spec-Ops brand chest pouch capable of holding eight magazines. Don't miss this opportunity to win a package valued at over $2,750!

S.W.A.T. Sweepstakes


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The American Rifleman: A Dying Breed?
There are a lot of people who can shoot and shoot well, but are the skills of the real rifleman fading into the mists of time?

by Steve Lee

Springfield SOCOM 16: Another American Classic?
The author takes a critical look at one of the latest offerings from the respected Illinois manufacturer. Pulling no punches, he tells the good – and the bad – about this new rifle.

by Ashley Emerson

Armalite AR-10 A4 Carbine: Versatile and Powerful
The market is full of specialized rifles made to excel at doing one thing right. The author found that the AR-10 is capable of doing a lot of things very well.

by Rob Pincus

Street and Vehicle Tactics: Self-Defense Situations Around Vehicles
Outside of home and at work, most people spend more time in their vehicles than any other place. This article tells in detail how the vehicle can be a real lifesaver — or a metal coffin.

by Joe Torre

My Favorite Revolvers
From small, snub-nosed .38s to the mighty .44 Magnum, the author shares his thoughts on what makes a revolver shine.

by Leroy Thompson

Executive Protection: Texas Style
Armed and unarmed tactics, conflict resolution, emergency first aid, knife defense, and much more are part of a seven-day executive protection class in the deep South. S.W.A.T. brings you the story from the front lines.

by Steve Moses

Combat Aircraft Passenger Egress
Our brave young men in uniform go into harm's way every day around the globe, often using either fixed or rotary wing aircraft. This course teaches them how to make emergency egress – and survive – if they are shot down over water.

by Chris Adams

Rifles Only! World-Class Sniper And Hunter Training Center
The shotgun guru casts a critical eye at some of the new slugs offered by the hundred-year-old manufacturer, Brenneke.

by Louis Awerbuck