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MAY 5, 2020

Barnes Bullets received the 2020 Award of Excellence from Sporting Classics Publications in the ammunition category. Sporting Classics’ 18th annual Awards of Excellence salute the best of the best.
Bear Edge Knives introduces the new Bear Edge 61121, an assisted sideliner EDC pocket knife with a fast action, tough blade and a glass breaker.
FN America, LLC  has been awarded a five-year, firm-fixed price Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract to supply M16A4 carbines through the U.S. Army. The contract was a split award with another company and has a potential value of up to $383 million.

For a limited time, save 20% on select mounts from Samson Manufacturing. The sale continues through midnight, May 5th.
The U.S. Army awarded a five-year, IDIQ, firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales contract for M16A4 rifles to Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC.
Primary Arms has announced the addition of 9 new firearm brands to their retail site. These brands include Heckler & Koch, Nighthawk Customs, Polymer 80, Mega Arms, Zastava, Maxim Defense, DoubleStar Corporation, Angstadt Arms, and Stag Arms.

Everest announced its philanthropic program benefitting various industry organizations.  Everest Gives Back has selected several, well-known conservation and veteran non-profit groups to be the first recipients of its charitable efforts.
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 89 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2019. Of these, 48 officers died as a result of felonious acts, and 41 officers died in accidents.
Galco’s Great Alaskan chest holster is now available for revolvers with 6” – 6 ½” barrels from S&W, Ruger, Colt and others. The holster’s positioning on the chest keeps it clear of gear carried near the waistline and also helps keep your handgun dry when wading.

One accessory that all serious shooters employ to help them is a high-quality, adjustable rifle sling. Ulfhednar's UH303 Sling has been designed to help steady your shots quickly and easily.
Shooting Industry’s second annual “Woman’s Issue” delivers several ways to welcome women to the shooting sports and firearms ownership — and in turn, expand sales to this dynamic consumer.
Celerant Technology, a leading provider of innovative retail solutions, today announce the company will now offer its new Curbside Pickup Application to retailers at no cost for 3 months. 

 

 

During the recent unpleasantness, I’ve taken time to go through ‘my stuff’ and try to get at least marginally organized. I came across a text -- Leadership and Training for the Fight: Using Special Operations Principles to Succeed in Law Enforcement, Business, and War by Paul R. Howe.

While on a media trip some years ago, I actually got to visit MSG Howe’s base of operations, his school – Combat Shooting And Tactics, or CSAT – in Texas. We were using his iron sight design – made by XS Sights – on AR-15s as well as some other gear and we got exposed to his teaching style. He was everything I’d come to expect from my time around Army NCOs (1968-1975) – in the good way. To say that MSG Howe is “squared away” is likely the understatement of the decade.

Around half of his military service was spent in Special Operations and he’s been teaching in his post-Army career for at least as long as he was in the Army. A combat veteran – if you’ve heard of Blackhawk Down, you have some idea – he was not only a door-kicker, but a team leader and a trainer.

He gears up to teach; it's important that he is in the same "uniform" as those he teaches. Below, he's as good in lecture as on the range.

His book is meant to be helpful to warriors, but has some lessons for organizing, preparing, thinking and working through life generally. Chapters include an examination of Boyd’s Loop, Combat Mindset, Individual Leadership, Leader Selection, Team and Organizational Leadership, and more.

Each chapter begins with a sub-head chapter synopsis and a story. From the story, he draws after-action comments then proceeds to deal with each of those issues raised in the AAR through the chapter, ending with “key points.” In this way, he “shows his work” in the analysis of the problem and how those in charge demonstrated leadership – or did not. From those lessons, good and bad, he makes recommendations for proceeding: what do you keep, what do you discard, change or train through.

Seen on MSG Howe's pack.

He doesn’t write to cast aspersions on those non-hackers but uses the experience as object lessons. Don’t obsess over how bad a commander was but how you can ensure those mistakes aren’t made again. Chapters on Mindset and Training for the Fight are worth the cost of the book. The rest is dessert.

He has a book on shooting that’s coming up, but don’t wait. Grab Leadership and Training for the Fight. It’s highly recommended.

-- A carry method --

Galco VHS 3.0 on the left, the earlier model on the right.

A short few months ago, we’d received a release from Galco about a new rendition of their Vertical Holster System – the VHS 3.0. I had the previous version and had used it on long driving trips and, occasionally, even closer to home.

As old age has swept over, the typical aches have come and gone. Sometimes a belt holster isn’t the best choice. On the road, the gun and spare mags are out of the way while being on-person; far better than off-body carry. When I arrive at my lodgings, I have only to check in, lock up and slip the harness off – no gun handling in hotel rooms. When I’m ready to light out, I pack, slip the harness on and get on the road.

Likewise, a shoulder system can make sense on a hanger in the master bedroom. When the ‘bump in the night’ arrives, slip on gun, ammo and all as you’re on speaker phone to 911.

So what’s the deal with the VHS 3.0? You still have a steerhide rig with a vertical holster and dual spare magazine carrier (or double dump pouch for revolver versions). The rig as sold is good for us and even for southpaws like Jeff Quinn, as its bilateral. One size fits both left- and right handed types. There are optional accessories (like a cuff case for peace officers.)

Harness fasteners -- Chicago screw original on the right.

Now harness screws are replaced with a key-hole harness fastener attachment. In addition, the tie-down system is no longer an ‘after-thought.’ The key-hole fastener system prevents loss of one or both of the “Chicago screw” elements – you know how screws can sometimes back out and get lost. It’s also quick to adjust the rig if you follow the (superbly drafted) instructions.

The spider harness with the Flexalon swivel back plate is still the key to the system. The straps are contoured, hitting the line between comfort and concealability. The tie-down system is now a close part of the rig, not an addition. It allows the holster component to fit a lot closer to the belt.

It’s a modular system, not my ‘everyday’ but a handy alternative and one well worth looking into.

- - Rich Grassi

Tactical Wire - 2271 N Upton St., Arlington, VA 22207
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