May 2014 Archives | S.W.A.T. Magazine

Long Distance Calling: Barrett Optical Ranging Scope

Long before the measuring tools we now take for granted existed, shooters calculated things like distance and wind speed by the school of last experience. Two hundred yards last time looks like this and the bullet struck here. The wind speed on my face or vegetation caused my bullet to do this last time, so…

Briefing Room: Open Vs. Concealed Carry

This month I’m going to weigh in on a topic that’s hotly contested by both proponents and opponents, open versus concealed carry. Full disclosure: I am a resident of Arizona, where open carry is allowed. Additionally, although available for those who want one, a concealed weapon permit is available, but not required, for concealed carry.…

Survival on the Cheap: Ten Preps For Under $20

Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, snowstorms, volcanoes, earthquakes. And those are just some natural hazards—there are also plenty of manmade disasters waiting to ruin a perfectly good day. Truth be told, we can never really know what will come our way or how it will affect us. But given all the dangers and uncertainties in the…

Remaining Functional: Safety Rule Number Two

The Four Safety Rules exist for a reason. We—empirical WE—deal with firearms, which by definition are deadly weapons. Any lack of concentration when handling a firearm can—and often does—lead to tragedy. The Four Rules are: All guns are always loaded. Don’t let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. This includes your…

Freedom of Choice: M4 or MP5?

About 20 years ago, I was an Army ROTC cadet attending pre-officer training at Ft. Lewis, Washington. We were at an impact area watching a demonstration of different types of artillery that the U.S. Army had in its inventory. The weapons being demonstrated were the 105mm Howitzer and the 155mm Howitzer. The 105mm is a…

Frontline Debriefs: Emotion and Deadly Force

My wife, Brett, and I attended a movie the other night. It was a movie of her choice—which is to say it was not the Dirty Dozen or a Steve McQueen flick. As soon as the movie started, the individuals behind us began to speak and the moron directly behind me kept bumping my seat…

Offbeat: BCM Gunfighter Grip MOD 3

Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) joined the pistol grip fray a little over a year ago with their Gunfighter Grip, and has recently offered a modification to their product. The MOD 3 is a high-impact polymer pistol grip that is a drop-in replacement for the A2 part. All the shooter needs is a long bladed screwdriver or Allen wrench, depending on how the rifle maker attached the stock unit, and about two minutes of time. The grip is offered in Black, Flat Dark Earth, and Foliage Green, which are the big three for all things AR.