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SHORT BARREL, BIG PERFORMANCE: POF-USA P415 Edge Pistol
Photos by Josh Locatis The wait is finally over. Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA) has entered the AR pistol market, and in a big way. The company is now offering all its models in compact pistol variants. As a result, the company’s Renegade, Renegade+, P415, P308, and award-winning Revolution can now be had in short-barreled configurations
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SAINT OR SINNER? Springfield Armory SAINT Pistol in .300 BLK
I was scratching my hairless head trying to figure out how another AR platform could be so successful in a field inundated with numerous variations on Eugene Stoner’s military rifle. The Springfield Armory (SA) SAINT™ AR-15 rifle is a rookie in a population of very mature antecedents, but it has rapidly captured a much respected
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LONG GUNS: Rifle-Caliber Pistols Without Arm Braces
Last month in this space, I wrote about the trend of using rifle-caliber pistols with arm braces. I pointed out their advantages and tactical uses. In this column, I want to discuss the same type of pistol but without the arm brace. I’ve tested a half dozen of these rifle-caliber pistols, shooting them as if
SurvivalShow More
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AGAINST ALL ODDS: Portable Emergency Stoves
More survival and camp stoves are on the market than ever before. They range from large, heavy tent style to small bottle stoves that weigh only a few ounces. It’s challenging to sift through all the options and find something that fits every need. When it comes to camping and survival, wood-burning stoves are generally
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PRIORITIES FOR PREPPERS: From Gasoline to Gardens
I recently ran into an acquaintance at a gun show. He moved here a couple years ago from the east coast, bought 60 acres and a nice house up in the hills, and got interested in preparedness. He launched into telling me about his newest purchase, a .338 Lapua with the Hubble Telescope mounted on
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OFFBEAT: C’mon Baby, Light My (Survival) Fire
The ability to start a fire is a key factor in surviving in the wild. It can mean the difference between life and death. The conditions won’t be ideal. You need redundant ignition methods to ensure at least one works in any environment. THE SURVIVAL LIGHTER A good lighter cannot be matched for its all-around
WeaponsShow More
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SHORT BARREL, BIG PERFORMANCE: POF-USA P415 Edge Pistol
Photos by Josh Locatis The wait is finally over. Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA) has entered the AR pistol market, and in a big way. The company is now offering all its models in compact pistol variants. As a result, the company’s Renegade, Renegade+, P415, P308, and award-winning Revolution can now be had in short-barreled configurations
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SAINT OR SINNER? Springfield Armory SAINT Pistol in .300 BLK
I was scratching my hairless head trying to figure out how another AR platform could be so successful in a field inundated with numerous variations on Eugene Stoner’s military rifle. The Springfield Armory (SA) SAINT™ AR-15 rifle is a rookie in a population of very mature antecedents, but it has rapidly captured a much respected
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EVOLUTION AT WORK: FN 509 Tactical
Photos by Ethan Burgreen Recent events illustrate what a dangerous world we inhabit, with terrorist attacks increasing in frequency. If a hostile situation is encountered, a citizen will most likely be defending themselves with a handgun, which is a compromise between portability and performance. Successful handgun designs constantly evolve. This is for a variety of
Tactics & TrainingShow More
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LONG GUNS: Rifle-Caliber Pistols Without Arm Braces
Last month in this space, I wrote about the trend of using rifle-caliber pistols with arm braces. I pointed out their advantages and tactical uses. In this column, I want to discuss the same type of pistol but without the arm brace. I’ve tested a half dozen of these rifle-caliber pistols, shooting them as if
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KNOCK, KNOCK: Ballistic Breaching with Shotguns
Speed is essential in any dynamic entry. Breaching must be both rapid and effective. A variety of methods—mechanical, thermal, explosive, and ballistic—may be employed depending on what is to be breached and the tactical situation. From a military perspective, since combat has migrated toward military operations in urban terrain (MOUT), ballistic-breaching operations have increased. Ballistic
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CLOSE-QUARTERS KNIFE ATTACKS: Red Zone Threat Management Knife Defense Program
“If some skeevy guy attacks me with a knife, I will simply draw my pistol and shoot him.” Good luck with that, unless said knife-wielding miscreant is well beyond contact distance, intoxicated, stupid, or just wants to die (“suicide by cop”). Almost everyone else most likely wants to threaten, injure, or kill us without getting
GearShow More
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SAFE AND SECURE ON THE ROAD: Hornady RAPiD Vehicle Safe
Firearms security is your responsibility, and you should do everything you can to keep your guns out of the wrong hands. Whenever your firearm is not under your immediate control, it should be securely stored and out of sight. There are times when we must temporarily store our gun in our car or truck. Locking
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THE CUTTING EDGE: Newest Spyderco Para 3
The Para 3™ is the latest generation of the Spyderco Para Military™ line of folding knives. With the Para 3, Spyderco took the time-proven features and functionality that have made the iconic Para Military™ 2—one of Spyderco’s best-selling knives—and put them into a more compact, all-purpose cutting tool that’s perfect for everyday carry. The Para
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LAWFUL CARRY Wilder Tactical Belt System
In 1980, I accosted a home intruder at zero dark thirty in my living room. I was wearing a bathrobe and nothing else (I apologize if that mental image is difficult for the reader to bear) and armed with a Ruger Security .357 Magnum revolver with six-inch barrel. I held the burglar at gunpoint for
More from S.W.A.T.Show More
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AGAINST ALL ODDS: Survival Travel: Fighting Back!
Fighting back against an attacker may be as simple as grabbing something close by and utilizing it—fast! Most big cities worldwide have crime. Situations with locals preying upon obvious tourists often end in some sort of physical conflict. This could be an encounter with a casual pickpocket or overaggressive local where you have to fight.
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STREET SMARTS: Signing Off
My law enforcement career lasted 30 years in total, I’ve only owned three houses in my life, my last vehicle had almost 200,000 miles at trade-in, and my local newspaper outdoor column has run continually since 1989. My history here at S.W.A.T. shows similar longevity. According to my records, the first Street Smarts column was
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GOOD GUYS WIN! Second Amendment in Action
Counselling Resistance It was about 10pm on a Wednesday in November when the proprietor of a counselling service in north Sacramento, California had a routine evening interrupted by an unexpected intruder. A masked man brandishing a gun and demanding money entered the business, which is located in an office park. But the tables were quickly
