Overview
Possibly also known as the great missing issue of S.W.A.T. Depending on where you live, the April issue may be difficult to find. Big shake-ups are happening in the magazine newsstand distribution industry and it’s possible that thousands of copies of S.W.A.T. may never reach the shelves of newsstands. If you can’t find it, back issues will be available here on the site. We’ve done all we can to produce another must-read issue for you, and it should be on sale now. Happy hunting!

Columns
The Briefing Room
The Three Rs
by Denny Hansen

Street Smarts
They’re Watching You
by Brent T. Wheat

Against All Odds
Field Trauma Kit: Beyond Band-Aids
by Terrill Hoffman

Frontline Debriefs
Is It Worth It?
by Scott Reitz

Enemy at the Gate
The Spirit of April 19, 1775
by Stewart Rhodes

Training & Tactics
Buyer’s Guide
by Louis Awerbuck

Departments
Mail Room:
Letters from our Readers
Staff

Lawful Carry:
Bianchi Model 105 Minimalist
Flint Hansen

Long Guns:
Smith & Wesson M&P15R in 5.45x39mm With Valdada 1.1-4
Leroy Thompson

Offbeat:
Tactical Balls
Eugene Nielsen

The Cutting Edge:
A Pair of Spyderco Byrd Knives
Leroy Thompson

Gear Locker:
New Products and Accessories
Staff

  
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Features
SHOOT 'n' SAVE

Why has commercially produced ammunition become so expensive in the last few years? Spikes in metal prices, especially copper and brass. These metal price increases have little or no direct effect on the price of military surplus ammunition, but naturally the supply and demand factor does. When the price of new factory ammo is double- and triple-plus what it was a couple of years ago, the value of all ammo, even though it be decades old, goes up.
by Ned Christiansen

AMERICAN AUGs

The Steyr AUG is arguably the most successful bullpup in history. It debuted as the shoulder arm of the Austrian Army in 1977 and has since been adopted by several countries' militaries. It has not, however, achieved the same success with domestic law enforcement agencies. Reasons for this include the gun's unconventional design, different manual of arms and higher cost. And among private gun owners, the AUG has always been somewhat of a cult firearm. Now two U.S. manufacturers are producing their own homegrown AUGs. How do they compare to the original?
by Ed Lawrence

PROPER STOCK PLACEMENT

Many who are untrained or have received minimal entry-level training often fail to understand that the inability to solidly mount the carbine (the interface between the weapon and your body) is the reason why you can't place rapid, accurate rounds into your opponent. That mount starts with your stance, but regardless of your body orientation, that rifle stock has to be connected to your upper body.
by Patrick A. Rogers

DANGER ZONE

Every SWAT team or narcotic unit serving warrants must adhere to their state laws and guidelines as well as case law regarding search warrant service. This article discusses the administrative issues, preparation, tactics and actual service of arrest and search warrants.
by Jim Polan

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

Recently SIG Sauer introduced the P250, a gun that is capable of what they describe as "infinite possibilities." What sets the P250 apart from other handguns, and will set the bar for future developments, is that it is capable of being converted into different calibers and sizes—something that no other handgun offers. What allows this to happen is that the handgun is built on a modular chassis, with the entire lower receiver mechanism able to be changed out by the end user at will. This modularity allows multiple frame and multiple top ends to be available to the user, so that the pistol can be set up for a myriad of possibilities.
by Scott Oldham

OLD MAN SIGHTS

As we age, we lose some of the abilities that we’ve lived with for a few years. One that seems to go is eyesight. On a Gunsite trip, I encountered what are called the Old Man Sights. They consist of an XS Sight Systems front dot coupled with a modified rear sight. Novak’s rear seems to be the most commonly used. Are they the answer for aging eyes? Oops, let’s rephrase, as we all know there is no “the” answer to tactical questions. Are they an answer?
by Erick Gelhaus

RED DOT CONTINGENCY TESTING

Red dot sights are a tremendous aid in getting fast hits. In the April 2008 S.W.A.T., Pat Rogers surveyed back-up sighting options for use should a red dot sight fail. I have trained to the various contingency actions should an optic no longer have the dot when needed and had some opinions. However, the arrival of a new optic for my carbine provided an excuse to go out and seek hard numbers for the different scenarios. And here they are.
by Ethan Johns

PAINTING YOUR PIECE

There are several reasons for painting a firearm, the first and most common being camouflage. There are few things in nature that are solid black. It only makes sense to break up the outline of a firearm. The second most common reason for painting a firearm is aesthetics. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What looks good to the manufacturer may not look as appealing to you. Next is protection from the elements, such as humidity. The last reason is just plain fun. Hey, it's your smokepole, and if you want to do something offbeat, go for it. This article discusses painting options and how to do them.
by Denny Hansen

STING OF THE SKORPION

In the 1970s I was fascinated by images of European terrorists carrying small yet lethal machine pistols. I identified the weapon as an SA Vz. 61 Skorpion machine pistol. The Skorpion was officially adopted in 1961 by the Czechoslovakian Army. Reports indicate it found favor with special operations units due to the ease with which the .32 ACP can be effectively suppressed. The Czechs heavily exported the Skorpion. Undoubtedly, this is how it arrived in the hands of various European terrorist gangs, such as the German Baader-Meinhof Gang and Italian Red Brigades. The weapon being reviewed here is CZ-USA's semi-auto pistol version of the Skorpion, the Vz. 61 Pistol. The semiautomatic pistol version of the Skorpion gives firearms enthusiasts the opportunity to handle and experience what made the original machine pistol so greatly appreciated.
by Todd Burgreen

MAKING MINI MIGHTIER

There are probably thousands of Mini-14/AC556 rifles collecting dust in armories all over the country. Since the AR format has taken over the marketplace for law enforcement tactical teams, Minis have become outdated due to their inability to accept all the new bells and whistles. But now things are changing, with the development of the patent-pending Clyde Armory SCAR-CQB stock for Mini-14/AC556 series rifles. For about one-third the price of a specialized M4 setup, one can now transform existing caches of Mini-14/AC556 rifles from ugly ducklings into state-of-the-art tactical firearms.
by Steve Malloy