NRA American Warrior Issue 22

8/10/2019 NRA American Warrior Issue 22

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At the Rangewith SIGs NewP-320 Pistol

Earl Davis:The Story ofa WWII Hero

HealingThroughShooting

Blackwater:A CivilianWarrior Tale

The FNS 9L:Perfectionin Polymer

Eat, Work,Sleep, Shoot:Craig Calkins

Of F-105s,Pilots andHeroes


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WarriorWare We feature SIG and FNS pistols, plus ourPrecision Trainer, Part II.

Virtual Warrior Games, videos and more for the

modern warrior.

Marines: Shooting To Heal

Meet the Warrior Games shooting team thatdominated the competitionas usual.

The Little County That CouldA tale of planes, pilots and heroesculminates in Haralson County, Ga.

If You Were A Cop ... What would you drive? The case forequipping those who serve.

NPSC DominationRobert Vadasz extends his reign at thePolice Shooting Championships.

The Replacements Men like Earl Davis are fading fastand

theyre irreplaceable.

Eat, Work, Sleep, Shoot Colorado Springs police officer Craig Calkins

thrives on competitive shooting.

Of Glocks And Glory Why you should make time for a Glock

Sports Shooting Foundation match.

Civilian Warriors A look back at some of the unknown heroes

in our nations War on Terror.

AmericanWarriorN U M B E R 2 2


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ON THE COVER:

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR. Photo by Don Jones.THIS SPREAD:

Marine Shooting Team. Photo by Don Jones.

Welcome to the Warrior.


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W E L C O M E T O T H E W O

WARNING: All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of individuals using specific tools, products, equipment and

components under specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and over which the National Rifle Association (NRA) has no control. The

data have not otherwise been tested or verified by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using

such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages. No advertised item is intended for sale in those states or in those areas where local restrictionsmay limit or prohibit the purchase, carrying or use of certain items. Check local laws before purchasing. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not

necessarily mean that it has been tested or approved by the NRA.

TEAM WARRIOR:

Editor

Mark Chesnut

Guns & Gear Editor

Frank Winn

Creative Director

Clay Turner

Photography/Videography Team

Dennis Azato

Michael Ives

J.R. Salzman

Rick Stewart

Writing Team

Tom Hoser Freeman

Chuck Holton

Dom Raso

J.R. SalzmanRick Stewart

National Rifle Association of America

11250 Waples Mill Road

Fairfax, VA 22030

Wayne LaPierre

Executive Vice President

Chris W. Cox

Executive Director, NRA-ILA

Kyle Weaver

Executive Director, General Operations


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L D O F T H E W A R R I O R

TOM HUSSEY


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Defending Our America: Episode 11Liberty, Security and Eyes in the Sky


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Defending Our America: Episode 12Who Are the Bad Guys?

Defending Our America: Episode 10The Men Behind the Drugs


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View the Defending Our America series,sponsored by SIG Sauer on NRA Life of Dutyhere.


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10/206SIGNIFICANT

WARRIORWARE

A M E R I C A N WA R R I O R

hen a pistol-sized box appears on your desk from Newington,

N.H., who says Uh-oh, its a SIG?

After all, from the legendary P210, P220 and P226

to the innovative P227 (AW13), SIG Sauer pistols are

acknowledged icons of quality, reliability, innovation and

accuracy the world over, and have been for decades.

Those nervous guys would be us. Not that

weve ever had a problem, mind you, but rather that Cupids arrowor

bullet?never quite found the mark with us.

Well, everything changes.

W


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Y FRANK WINNU N S & G E A R E D I T O R

P H O T O G R A P H Y B YMICHAEL IVES

DEPARTURE


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The grip andslide slots

would be openon the DAO 250,but are closedand filled withstriker-relatedcomponents onthe P320.

A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A M


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WARRIORWARE

O U T S I D E

The cause of our apprehension is the latest addition to the SIG family ofpistols: the 320. While the heritage is clearly P family, the newest scion of the

house claims several innovative developments.

Perhaps most obvious is the lack of an external hammer. Unlike the cosmetically

similar P250, the hammer travel slot in the rear of both slide and frame is sealed,and with good reason: The 320 is SIGs entry into the striker-ignition fray.

Like most striker pistols, the 320 is steel above, polymer below. The slide is

nitron-finished stainless steel with dovetailed front and rear sights. Our sample

pistol was fitted with a pair of SIGLITE night sights. Other slide cuts comprise a

nose taper to ease holstering (and to save weight),

a generous ejection port, locking notch, disassembly

relief, and front and rear cocking serrations.

About those cocking serrations: They might be thebest weve seen on any pistol, ever. It doesnt matter

how you like to manipulate the slide (from the front or

rear of the ejection port, slingshot, web-of-the-hand or

cross-gripping), we think their design is ideal. They are

deep, but not so deep that theyll prove a rust or

snag hazardbeen there, done that. Theyre broad,

but not so broad as to be ineffectively slippery to the

small-fingered, heavily calloused or when wetbeen

there, done that, too. This may seem like an odd thingto like so much, but when it comes to safety and

malfunction clearing, this can be a huge deal.

Dropping down to the frame brings us to another

major departure from most of the Pssaid frame,

isnt. Instead of being the serial-numbered heart of

the firearm, SIGs grip module is merely one of nine

swappable components. With a single acquisition, the 320 gives the owner small,

medium and large grip diameters, as well as duty, carry and sub-compact overall

pistol size, all with magazines to match.

Visit the Gear Channel

Good front serrationsget the strongest digit

(thumb) back in theslide manipulationgame, and the 320sare superb. A good lookat the muzzle taper andaccessory rail too.

Nine choicesFull

(length) Medium(grip diameter)was issued to us.Wouldnt change athing, but sure could!

C A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A


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If thats a shock, take some time: It settles in nicely the more you

think about it.

Molded-in grip texture is common to each grip module. Highlyreminiscent of the E2treatment introduced on the P226, its a surface

weve admired before. We tested it wet, muddied and even oil-slicked.

The last is always a challenge, but the 320 soldiered on. We also tried

to snag it on various lining/clothing materials, and found it essentially

snag-free. One of our test materials was

a microfiber-type on which even chapped

skin binds badly, but it slid over the SIG

texture with ease.The bottom of the grip module has a feature we expect to see proxied

or out-and-out copied, and soona generous relief cut which allows a

really authoritative grasp of the magazine base plate between thumb and

forefinger. As experienced handgun shooters know, a Type 3 malfunction

can lock a magazine amazingly, dangerously tight during the dreaded

double-feed, and serious leverage can be needed to free it. While we did

not experience any actual double-feeds during our range tests, we simulated

several. The 320 excelled in reducing these stoppages precisely because it

provides for such sure magazine removal.In the past, weve seen, and had trouble ourselves, with the position/

architecture of P series slide locks, as certain hand dimensions and grips

will repeatedly activate the unprotected lever and lock the slide in recoil. We

tried to excite this considerable, even dangerous, inconvenience on the P320

and had no success at all. Even with buckier defensive loads, the slide lock

never engaged in thisah, unhelpful?way. We cant say whether this is due

to the reshaping of the lever to include a downward bevel or the addition of

a small guard shelf. Either way, its a welcome advance.

The magazine release is another clever joy of the P320. Defaulted to the

leftsorry southpawsits nevertheless dead simple to swap. The first time

we did it, we went slowly to make sure no small parts escaped (particularly

the small spring). But the second time we timed it at under a minute, easily.

Its also our opinion that mag release springs generally have more tension

than desirable, but wed rate this one nearly perfect. The button itself is

also a nifty compromise. Its long enough for easy access, and its triangular

shape is nicely beveled and textured for sure tactile feedback without digging

WARRIORWARE

Nice triggerguard under-cutyields great highhand position.Mag releaseflips around for

lefties toowecould do thisin well undera minute witha smidgeon ofpractice.


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Type 3stoppageclearance isexceptionalon the P320due to solidmag baseplates andthe griprelief cut.

The grip scallops are bilateral,and we found them an unexpectedbenefit in several ways.


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SIG 320 magazines arefirst rategreat tubes, goodbase plates, followers andcaptive internal lock plate.Disassembly is a cinch, andround-count limiting is wisely

done with a dimple (in box)rather than a cut.


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into your weak-side palm. For duty or competition, its another part that

doesnt demand swap or modification.For servicing and cleaning, the 320 reprises what weve long argued is

the best takedown in the world, similar to the Walther P38 of World War II

fame. With the slide locked back, a forward, left-side lever rotates to a

stop, and, with release of the slide lock, permits the slide to be swept

forward off the frame.

In the new SIG, takedown is not only easydare we say foolproofbut

also exceptionally safe. First, locking the slide back ejects any chambered

round and exposes any magazine that might still be in position. Second,

the disassembly lever cant be activated to the release position with a

magazine in the grip module,

so the ammunition source must

be removed. Thirdly, there is no

necessity to press the trigger to

release the slide: Even if a round

manages to remain chambered

(mechanically possible, but

difficult enough to alert you thatsomething is decidedly amiss),

the trigger is still deactivated by

the disassembly lever. Were not

saying the system cant be beat,

but we didnt discover how!

The bilateral thumb rests

top other clever grip architecture

nuances. In a one-handed grip,

the thumb certainly finds these commodious. But a modern, two-handedgrip has the thumbs otherwise occupied, and these take on a different

function. On the left, they prevent the fleshy part of the thumb/hand from

unhelpfully contacting the mag release. On the right, we found them a

valuable aid to proper gripthe ridge on the underside of the index finger

knuckle is an instant cue that hand position is too low, especially when

drawing. Lastly, they constitute a de factorelief cut, alternately making the

mag release (on the left) and trigger (on the right) easier to reach without

compromising overall gripping diameter.

...THERE IS NO NECESSITYTO PRESS THE TRIGGER TORELEASE THE SLIDE: EVEN

IF A ROUND MANAGES TOREMAIN CHAMBERED...THE TRIGGER IS STILLDEACTIVATED BY THEDISASSEMBLY LEVER.

WARRIORWARE

Email the Editor


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Grip module withaction core in place.The disassembly leverremoves to the left, andwith a gentle pull forwardand then up, out comes...

WARRIORWARE


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I N S I D E

The 320is the first striker-fired SIG. Borrowingfrom the modular P250 (introduced in 2007), it

replaces the DA-only, hammer-based action with

a striker-based ignition system. As we said, thisstainless assembly is the actual pistol, and virtually

everything else can be swapped in and out.

These swaps even include caliber: With the P320,

9 mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and (eventually) .45 ACP

slide assemblies are available to build up from your

original core. If thats not versatile enough for a single

serial number, were open to suggestions.

With the slide off the pistol, our 9 mm presented

other reminders of SIG precision and attention todetail. The barrel is a conventionally rifled design with

integral feed rampa combination we were able to

get to feed spent brassabout half the time. Is there

any wonder our malfunction report is short?

Unlike some previous P family pistols, the

320 uses a long life, flat wire recoil spring with an

unusually high turn count (49) on a two-piece steel

guide rod.

P320

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P

theserializedcore of the

P320. Itsa dream tomaintain, tosay nothingof amazingversatility.


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The P320slide, withbarreland recoilassembly stillin place. Lotsgoing on, all

of it good.

Numerous internal cutstake care of dynamicbalance in the slideaction. Smooth shootingis the result, with greatreturn to point-of-aim.

SIG Sauer PromotionalMop up that drool when youre finished.


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The grip texture andarchitecture are great.We particularly likethe shelf under theslide lock: no moreaccidental activationatjuuuuuustthewrong moment.


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AT THE RANGE

One of the things we immediately liked aboutthe P320 was the inclusion of a holster and second

magazine. An irritating hazard of, and barrier to, our sort ofanalysis can be the availability of this type of kit as there

isntanygood way to proxy the speed of a reload without a

second magazine. And generic holsters? The best of them,

well, stink.

We didnt head to the range expecting functional issues

whatever our other apprehensions might have been about

the 320, reliability was not among them. Still, we tested

a wide range of projectile weights from 90 to162 grains,

including bullets of round nose, truncated cone and several

different hollow point designs. Overall cartridge lengths

varied from 1.020 to 1.160. All were digested effortlessly.

The guide rod/recoil spring configuration handled all

bullet types and load levels with ease. Lighter loads cycled

decisively with cases ejecting at about the 2:30 position

(slightly forward of directly right), while heavier loads tossed

cases at a typical 4 to 4:30 position. We never felt the

pistol was close to slamming (full spring compression),even with heavy defensive ammunition. Combined with

the recoil-dissipating flex of the polymer grip module,

the spring/guide rod kept the 320 docileeven with the

pistols slightly higher bore lineand meant that return to

point-of-aim was very predictable.

We even fed the SIG some slightly but deliberately

deformed cases to simulate ammunition damage that

can occur in the field, but no joy: Feeding and ejection

proceeded unabated.

WARRIORWARE

Email the Editor

320 > > > > SIG P320 > > > > SIG P320 > > > > SIG P320 > > > > SIG P320 > > > > SIG P320 > > > > S


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Accuracy was splendid as

well, another hallmark of past

SIG pistols. With concentration

and good trigger work, even

a single survivor on the plate

rack was rare to 35 yards, and

unlikely even at 50.

This we largely credit to the

new trigger system. Weve long

noticed that SIG P series fans

are most frequently those whove

had extended opportunities to

use their SIGs to the exclusion

of all others, and, almost

as frequently, had access to

plenty of training ammunition.

Otherwise, mastery of the DAtriggers has been variable, or at

least lengthy.

These considerations are

essentially immaterial on

the 320. The short take-up,

moderate press weight (nominal

of 5.5 pounds, ours settled to

about 4.9) and very short reset

makes this a system to which

most anyone can accommodate

well and very quickly. The

loooooooongfirst press thats so difficult to master is loooooooonggone.

Note that both tabbed and un-tabbed versions (ours) of the trigger are

available to meet departmental, agency or personal requirements/preferences.

We hadnt the slightest inkling that this trigger-mounted lever was necessary,

and would skip it given the choice. But depending on how you count, this adds

a fourth safety to the out-of-battery/disconnector, and drop/striker safetiespresent in every pistol, irrespective of trigger choice.

The 320sbeavertail: notover-arched witha tendency tobite the thumb

knuckle likeone we know,yet sufficient toprovide enoughforward leverageto dampen recoil.


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Going To WorkAndrew T. Reinhardt, 2012 Rocky Mountain 300 Shoot-off Winnertakes the SIG P320 through its paces.

WARRIORWARE

Email the Editor


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Simple excellence,superb quality.Shoots like theproverbial houseafire too.

WARRIORWARE

THE SHORT TAKE-UP, MODERATEPRESS WEIGHT AND VERYSHORT RESET MAKES THISA SYSTEM TO WHICH MOSTANYONE CAN ACCOMMODATEWELL AND VERY QUICKLY.


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P320

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Takedownposition,which alsodeactivates

the trigger.

Normalposition ofthe takedownlever.


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G R I P E S

Our range work is probably predictive of what we have interms of gripesdarned few. In fact, the only one is a matter merely

of taste, and is easily amended.

In darkness or low light, we like the SIGLITE sights. They are added

to the pistol as an option and at a very reasonable price too. The

potential for difficulty, however, appears in daylight use. Over time,

general grime and carbon tend to attach themselves to the lenses

of the tritium lamps, and turn what are decently whitish dots an

unhelpful gray. Before long, the three-dot tactical style sight picturefades, and cleaning cannot fully restore it.

To many shooters, this doesnt matter much: Theyre aiming based

on the notch-and-post for distance precision, and the dots remain

satisfactory closer in. If this is you, then youre good. If not, consider

something like the Trijicon HD (NRA/AW review here), TruGlo TFO

(review here) or the soon-to-be-released XS 24/7 sights (review here).

If your SIG is destined for competition, consider the Battlehook: Their

exceptionally low profile is a great complement to the P320. Come to

think of it, their duty sights are great too (due in December 2014).

The second item isnt a gripe either, but a caution. SIG notes

with justificationthat there is no necessity to press the trigger for

disassembly, and they are correct. Thats a nice safety touch as

we observed in our discussion of takedown, but also not unique:

We know of at least one otherproperly clearedstriker-fired pistol

that shares this characteristic. The potential for an unintended

consequence occurs upon reassembly, however. A nimble, practiced

hand may be tempted to reassemble a freshly maintained 320without employing the slide lock, and doing so appears to work.

It also results in a dead trigger. Reinstating proper trigger function is easyjust pull

the slide to the rear and engage the slide lock (youll hear a click) and re-release the

slide. Merely racking the slide, even repeatedly, will not restore trigger functionits the

slide lock lever that does the trick.

This is not a malfunction or design error, as theres no way to seat a magazine in

the pistol until the proper procedure has been completed. SIGs outstanding manual

details correct reassembly (page 38, steps 6-8), but we couldnt find a reference to this

apparent gotcha. If you discover this inadvertently, at least youll now know there isabsolutely nothing wrong with your P320.

WARRIORWARE

Email the Editor


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Top rank inour book, byjust about anymeasure we

know.


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F I N A L

A N A LY S I S

We alluded in our title that the P320was a departure for SIG, and we stick by that

assessment. The striker-based ignition and

switchable polymer grip systems are obvious

to all, and for many applications represent

thatahemSIGnificant leap.

But the devil, as they say, is in the details,and in this case we think SIG got even more

important things right. A single, consistent,

short-reset trigger press is the standout to

us, but the dazzling versatility isnt far behind

(6,900+ possible combinations our mathwe

thinkreveals). And all of this comes without a

remotely consequential nick in SIGs traditional

stock-in-tradeaccuracy, reliability and granite-

esque durability.We get to the metaphorical end of the day,

therefore, with none of our past SIG Sauer

P series caveats. In our view, the P320 isnt

merely good, or even very good.

Itsgreat.

WARRIORWARE

Email the Editor


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P R E C I S I O N T R A I N E R , P A R T I I

We get down to it, or atleast start: shooting itty-bittybullets a long way.

Sponsor an LOD MembershipWARRIORWARE


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P H O T O S B Y

MICHAEL IVES

B Y FRANK WINNG U N S & G E A R E D I T O R

ur Precision Trainer rifle iscoming along. In Part I,

we took a look at some

selection criteria, and

came up with the Ruger

10/22 as our base platformanda fine one it is proving to be.

WARRIORWARE


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The goal of the project is to field a rifle that allows a dedicatedpractitioner to develop and/or maintain long-range skills withouthaving

access to a multiple thousands of dollars rifle/optics suite, or to a 600- to1,000-yard range. Our premise is that a sufficiently good rimfire can isolate

technique issues for 10 to 12 cents a shot, and teach a high percentage ofthe necessary skills on a 200-yard range.

While lots of factors contributed, three in particular lead to our choiceof the 10/22. First, the long life of the designit is in its 50th yearmeansthere are plenty of aftermarket parts/choices available, and especially

good triggers. Then, theres the very reasonable start-up cost of around$300. Also, many people have one around they dont shoot much

anymore (but should and will, we hope). Finally, we considered the abilityof the action to conform either to a pistol grip-configured rifle or to a

conventional stock design.

In a classic test ofwhether or not a barrelfloats in the stock, our

dollar bill doesnt makeit all the way back to theaction. Well fix that!


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In Part I, we decided to swap

out the trigger components inthe 10/22. As we noted, we

found the trigger crisp, but a little heavy (it settled at 5 1/2

pounds). For our precision training at distance we wantedmore delicacy. Keep in mind you can put just about as much

money as youd like into a 10/22 trigger. Volquartsen Custom,for instance, has a drop-in system (or at Brownells, here) thatreplaces your entire housing and all components for about

$250. Wed argue its worth every penny:You remove/replace one screw and two

pins, and in roughly 10 careful minutesyoull have a pretravel and overtravel

adjustable trigger at about 2 pounds. Andthey make the rifle an absolute dream

to shoot.Youll anticipate, perhaps, why we

arent going this route: Part of our goal

was to create an economical trainingrifle without breaking the bank. More

money left over for ammunition seemeda worthwhile by-product of a little

more work.Fortunately, project sponsors

Volquartsen and Brownells providedus with a great intermediate step, a

hammer kit (or straight from Volquartsen)for just this purpose. A reasonable

alternative to a full swap-out, it hasbenefits all its own. First, youll learn alot about how your rifle works. Second,

you can get a substantial percentageof the improvement for a fraction of the cost. This kit makes

use of many existing parts, but replaces the all-importanthammer with an EDM-cut, ultra-low-friction version mated

with precision bushings, and new springs for the hammer andtrigger return plunger.

The larger cutout (as opposed to the v

shape) is the difference in automatic boltelease. One fingered and easy, as opposedo the v cut in factory part, above

INSIDE


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Looking up at thebarrel/receiver/bolt fit through themagazine well. Thebolt face meets therear of the chamber,and the extractorclaw moves freely in

its channel. Perfect.

Barrel installwith clampingblock. Wefound specs fortension here aslow as 10 in-lbs.,and as high as65 in-lbs. Go

slowly.

The old lever-less magazinerelease will bemissed by an

exact total ofzero people.


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While weve been in the Ruger action many times before, we took ourtime, making sure we had all our tools (a conveniently small seta parts

tray, 5/32th Allen bit and driver, a .125 punch, and a toothpick for a slavepin), good light, and most important of allan empty firearm. Youll findthe Volquartsen instructions concise and complete. You might want them

printedslightly larger, but dropping frommore than 5 pounds to 2 1/4 made the

effort worthwhile.Our Ruger came with an extended

mag releasea part we used to buy and

addso the only other change we made was a Volquartsen Automatic BoltRelease. Were not so sure about the automatic part, but just take ourword for it and add one. It makes a clumsy two-handed operation a one-

finger undertaking.While youre inside the actionor poking around on the webyoull see

that manyother things could be tuned up, but weve stopped for the time

being. Even better performance can surely be added by further upgrades,but keep in mind the concept of diminishing returns. You may want them

later, but its also a good idea not to change too many things at once.

Plus, it keeps your project more affordable.Our last change was to install our Volquartsen barrel. Its a bull profile

of .920 inches diameter with a 1-in-9 twist. The first characteristic is to

reduce barrel flex, the second is to allow us to spin very heavy bulletsto stability.

Installing a barrel on a 10/22 isnt particularly difficult, but doesrequire caution. Once again, only proceed when youre certain you

have an empty rifle. Thanks to Brownells weve got a very

complete video showing the install of a Volquartsen barrelalmost identical to our upgrade. Pay particular attention

to chamber/bolt face fit as the video recommends.Remember, too, that youre mating a steel barrel to an

aluminum receiver, and the apparent need to brute-forceanything is code for get a professional involved, i.e., your

friendly gunsmith.

WARRIORWARE



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Easy to seesome fittingwork will beneeded onsome stocks.Good news islots of choices.


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Counting thefactory stock, we had sevenat our disposal. As wed shot the original

pretty extensively in Part I, we set it asidefor Part II. Also, it didnt seem polite to

start grinding away on the factory stock tomake it fit a .920-inch diameter barrel.

The Axiom was the easiest to get ourbarreled action into, and is cut the best

to securely accommodate the rear of theaction. Unfortunately, its just not stiff

enough for our tastes. If youre really aproject-lover, heres a good one: Figure out

a way to stiffen this little guy up. It was the

cool-factor winner in an un-scientific rangecrowd poll, and won the free-float and

actualdrop-in comparisons by a countrymile. Its a good design for sure, but one

that needs better execution.In the TAPCO/Intrafuse, we especially

like the option of a straight pull or a drop,and shot it both ways. We do wish it was

stiffer and allowed the barrel to free-float

without modificationwe left the top coveroff the handguard to aid this and willfix it later. Lots of rail estate here too,cleverly configured. It makes secure bipod

mounting easy. As AW readers, however,we know youre proof against the absurd

larding-up of the remaining rails, right?Right?!?

OUTSIDE

WARRIORWARE

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WARRIORWARE


If only theBlackhawk/Axiom werestiffer. Greatlooking andhad the best

internal fitof the lugon the rearof the Rugeraction.


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TAPCO can be

bought with BOTHstraight anddropped stocks.Lots to like,including all therail estate.

The Butler Creek we admired for its trimness, (short)

length and general no-frills functionality. When thisstock was first introduced, there were legitimate snipes

at looseness in the folder joint. But recent samplesweve seen are uniformly good in this regard, and our

pictured sample was a borrowed one with our actionplopped in and shot. Its been in service about 20

years and is still solid. The message here is simple:Select it in person if you possibly can (a mail-order/

website problem, we concede), and no slapping itopen or closed.

Note that you have to open up the barrel channel

substantially for a bull profile barrel like ours to fit,and this takes some time. A bipod can be attached to

the provided sling swivel, as we did with a long-sufferingHarris. If theres a consequential knock on the Butler

Creek its that some examples of the stock do notseem to fit the rear of the action as tightly as wed

wish given the single stock screw that connects them.Like many of our stock options, bedding is the best

and once-and-for-all solution to this problem.Theres an argument to be made that the TacStar

Adaptive Tactical Stock isnt quite as versatile as our

TAPCO at the butt, but its the hands-down winnerat the other end. The nifty design of the forearm

has about six different configurationsa factory or

bull profile barrel is accommodated by removal ofan insert. Slings and bipods can be stud-mounted,or a clever panel flipped over and reattached with

a polymer rail section exposed. The butt strikes abalance between the TAPCO options, with a slight

drop, but straight pull.Like most of the others, our TacStar wasnt a drop-in

fit, and some fairly aggressive inletting was required

around the rear of the action and trigger guard areas

to get our barreled action in. Once this was done,


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ARRIORWARE



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The Butler Creekfolder has beenaround for a longtime with goodreason: solidconstruction and27 inches short.That dollar billslides all the way

back to the lockingblock, verifyingthe absence ofstock contact: thedesirable freefloat.

Note that you have

to open up the barrelchannel substantially for abull profile barrel like ours tofit, and this takes some time.

WARRIORWARE



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however, the TacStar shone in several ways. The drop and adjustable length ofpull in the stock combine with a biggish grip diameter to make a comfortable

position behind the scope easy to find. Notably superior stiffness made loadingthe bipod for greater stability a cinch too. Our sample has a camo variant color

scheme that we, uh, detest, but thats simply a matter of taste. Good newsthough: Its also available in black.

Our last stock variation is a tried-and-true conventional (no pistol grip) stock,

also from Volquartsen. Essentially a heavy sporter style, its a dimensionallystable, laminated wood creation, CNCd with a rollover cheekpiece, bull barrel

channel and wide forend. It makes for a very comfortable-to-shoot rifle, andmaybe the best choice if your precision training is developmental for a centerfire

companion like the M24 or M40, or a hunting rifle with a traditional stock. One

minor knock is it has no sling stud.

10/22 magazines havent changedin years, and in our opinion,should always be preferred overimitators. Standard 10 round, anda 25-rounder (right).


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Obviously, we were anxious to test the performanceof our beautiful barrel, but to do that in the rimfire

world takes careful ammo selection. This is animportant divergence from centerfire. There, you can

reload your own if youre reallystuck, but it can bepunishing in terms of time consumption. Plus cost will still be daunting in relative

termsfour or five to one, compared to rimfire.So we trotted out to the range with our chronograph and 20 types of .22 LR

ammunition in tow. If you surmise that things are about to get technical, you would

be correct. But well make it as painless as possible.In Part I we talked in some detail about barrel vibration as shots are fired, and

interactions with anything making solid contact with the barrel, most especially thestock. While the impact on accuracy through this mechanism in .22 LR is smaller

than in a centerfire rifle, it still cannot be ignored. The lighter bullets and lower

velocities of rimfire render its ballistics delicate by comparison. Allowing the barrelto move freely, however, is hardly where it ends.

Our twist rate choice is another factor. Pretty much everyone knows the lands

and grooves of the rifled barrel twist in order to spin the bullet fast enough for it togyroscopically stabilize, and this has a relationship to velocity. Too slow and/or notenough twist, and youve got a musket: poor accuracy at least, and maybe bulletsif

they hit at allhitting the target sideways (key-holing). Too fast and/or too muchtwist, and the projectile can literally spin apart. Check out this relationship with the

Berger Bullets Twist Rate Stability Calculator if you want to learn more.

AT THERANGE


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American Eaglevariants were reliable,

but strictly 100-yardor closer fodder.Winchesters probablygood to 150, thePowerPoint (center)weve seen amazingperformance from onoccasion.

Remingtons,Winchesters andCCIs show manysubtle variations:copper-washed,

bare lead, hollow-point, round-nosed. Far rightwas our budgetstar over thechronograph: CCIAR Tactical.


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Point is, were watching for evidence of this effect on the accuracy of the Trainer, asour barrel spins the most common .22 LR bullet (40 grains) about 28 percent faster

than the typical 1-in-16 twist barrel. In case youre wondering, all our projectiles arelisted as solidly stable in the calculator.

The remaining big ballistic player may well be the mother lode of our Precision Trainer

projectbullet drop. This is where our chrono databecomes so important, and why we tested so manydifferent types of ammunition.

Knowing velocityand more importantly, velocity

variationmatters so much because of the effectit has on projectile TOF, or time of flight. If time of flight varies widely shot to shot,

gravity has more (or less) time to affect drop and create the vertical point-of-impacterrors that we discuss below in some detail. But it also significantly affects things

like spin drift (essentially the curve ball effect applied to a bullet, just to the leftor right based on barrel twist direction), and Coriolis effect: the Earth spinning

More Remingtons, thenRWS, Eleys, Aguilas(including the 60 grain SSSloaded in a .22 Short case),and the dimpled Federal900B, now superseded bythe 922A.

The Volquartsen 1-in-9 barrelis really designed for heavier,subsonic loadsespecially the60 Aguila SSS (upper right).Federal Gold Medal Match wasthe tightest, velocity-wise:only 6 feet/sec variation in

5-shot groups.

WARRIORWARE



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under the bullet asit travels between

barrel and target. Andbefore you believe the

twaddle that thesedont matter, consider

that the ShooterBallistics Calculator (AW 19 review here) shows our best ammo will still hit a

hypothetical 150-yard shot, but miss relatively badly on a 200-yard shot onthe same target if you dont reckon with these effects.

At 100 yards, our worst performing ammunition displayed a 114 ft/sec

difference between the fastest and slowest rounds in a string. As dreadful as this

sounds, it only accounts for an inch of difference in point of impact (we checkedour calculations on the Hornady Ballistics Calculator). On our 4-inch MGMdueling tree target, this meansif we do our partevery shot should hit, and

pretty easily too. Heck, we could theoretically load potluck and still hit almosthalf the time as long as any wind or other drift was properly accounted for.

But at 150 and 200 yards, the game changes dramatically. Velocity variationsalone are now accounting for 3.2-inch POI changes at 150, and 6.2 inches at

200 yards. If you contrast this with the best-performing ammunition (Federal900A Gold Medal), the reason for our diligence becomes clear. The math shows

velocity-sourced POI variation is cut by 90 percent at 200 yards, by 93 percent

And still more. If youdont recognize a lotof the packaging,well, thats howdeep we had to digto find .22 LR to burnup for your benefit.


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Classic lines forclassic skills:The Volquartsenlaminatedsporter.

at 150, and by more than 95 percent at 200 with the Gold Medal.

Granted, this is expensive rimfire ammo. Last time we could find it, it wasabout 25 cents a round. Thats depressing until you consider its centerfire

counterpart was $2-plus per round. Our second best performer, however,is starting to show at least spotty

availability and at one-third the cost,so hope springs eternal.

Narrowing our ammunition hunt was

the primary goal for round two on therange with the Precision Trainer, but of course we hadto try just a few

200-yard shots. It was breezy for rimfire at this distance, but steady, andwe got three out of four on, with one called miss using middling quality

ammo. Were saving our hoarded good ammo and techniques for makingthe best use of our Vortex optic and reticle for the experts.

WARRIORWARE



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Things are going well with the Ruger Precision Trainer.

Were happy with our internal changestrigger andbolt release. And certainly the Volquartsen barrel is

performing well. And in the areas where it isnt, our

velocity variation checks show its almost certainlyan ammunition issue. Well find out next time if the 1-in-9 twist is really too fast. Interms of stocks, the Sporter and TacStar will get the most play.

Weve also got ammunition narrowed down a bunch. The Ruger/Volquartsen/Vortex

combination doesnt seem to let the less precisely built sneak through. Weve yetto find another source for the spectacular Federal Match, but were looking. In the

meantime, a couple of other alternatives are available in reasonable quantity, andwell lob plenty of those.

With the nuts and bolts of our project settled, next time well throw a trio ofseriously fine rifle shots into the mix, and give them the final yay or nay on the

notion of the Precision Trainer.

WHATSNEXT


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T H E F N S 9 L M A K E S I T

B Y FRANK WINNG U N S & G E A R E D I T O R

P H O T O S B Y

MICHAEL IVES


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ts hard to look at the history

of lightweight, polymer-framed,

striker-fired pistols and not admire,indeed envy, their success. Even with

the proverbial 800-pound gorilla still

very much alive and in the gamewe all

know who that ismany others have found the military, law enforcement and

civilian markets rewarding.

In this frame of mind, we then wonder: Why would another majorplayer wait roughly

two decades to join the polymer/striker fray? After all, in some arenas, this company isthe 800-pound gorilla.

We think weve sussed out an answer, albeit in a very odd placesomewhere

between John Milton and Robert Burns. Those who only stand and wait may well

be planning to thwart the best laid plans of mice, men or unsuspecting

competitorsand deliver a pistol as good as the FNS 9L.

D E B U T


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At first blush, the American-made FNS 9L

looks like what it isa hammerless, steel

above/polymer below auto-loading pistol. In

our heads, we added good-looking too, but maybe thats just us. Ourparticular sample was matte blackwe presume a high-tech oxidebut

matte silver is available too.

Closer inspection yields a harvest of great standard

features, including fully ambidextrous controls. It took

our industry a frustratingly long time to awaken to the

need for these, and the execution of them on the 9L is

excellent, although you need to use them on the range to

fully appreciate some of their sophistication.

Of pistols in this class and type, the 9L also has anoticeably trimmer slide (by as much as .106 inch),

especially the upper half forward of the ejection port. That

might strike you as a so what? item, but we noticed

in our shooting trials that slide manipulation remained

sure for those of us with regular/biggish hands despite

there being less, in a literal sense, to grab. A couple of

small-handed volunteers, however, were emphatic in their

appreciation of the narrow top.

In retrospect, we think this is a limited but real effect,

and not some subjective, or even worse, transmogrified

cosmetic preference. The benefit to malfunction clearing

and overall handling safety accrues through two

mechanisms. First are good cocking serrations. They are

not our absolute favorites, but good, and plenty of them.

Second is the taper from the narrow upper half to the

wider lower half (got to have room for rails inside, right?)

of the slide. This machined step provides more contactarea for most slide manipulation techniques.

Think of it this way: Youre placingyourgripping

surfaces (fingers, etc.) in a shallow joint, where there

are two surfaces with which to have contact. The result

is more static friction, and hence more leverage. The least advantage

is with a traditional slingshot (weak hand thumb and forefinger)

technique, the most with a crossover grip forward of the ejection port.

This latter is so secure that the pistol can be hand-cycled well faster

than many can shoot it (10 rounds in well under two seconds).

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Its practically cheating, yet right there onthe USPSA Production list. The mag wellis like a funnelif you find a way to miss areload, wed be curious to know how.

Forward, the frame has a Picatinnyrail for a light, laser or combo device.One of our favorites: the Crimson Trace

Railmaster Pro.

WARRIORWARE


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Major componentsmay constitutea small partscount, but a bigperformance

advantage.


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WARRIORWARE


Two back straps may not seem likeenough, but grip texture is so effectiveit trumps mere dimensional alternativesin our view. Press the latching leverthrough the hole in the back strap toreleasea tool in the lanyard loop makes

it even easier to pull.

N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N


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Sights on our test pistol were a dovetailed pair of three dots:

.125-inch blade in front, Warren-style U notch in the serrated-face

rear. They are nothing fancy to be sure, but rugged and a much better

start than some we could name. With the almost overwhelming variety

now available (AW comparisons/reviews here, here and here), we have

to spot manufacturers this one: Theres no point in trying to guess

what most people would reallylike, and its impractically expensive to

try. Tastes simply vary too much.

The polymer frame has an ample supply of well-executed features,

too. Full ambi we already mentioned. In other words, magazine andslide releases are always available on both sides of the pistol, no

switching required.

The trigger guard also stands out. Its noticeably larger than most,

and we cant help but think how useful this will be for gloved use.

Combined with a flatter-faced and more vertical trigger (in prepped

position), fouling of glove finger material should be just about nil.

Nicely undercut, it also helps to establish the high grip so effective in

soaking up recoil impulse, and the straight press so useful to precise

and/or rapid trigger actuation.A studied observer might look at the grip of the FNS and conclude,

huh? We would understand why. The texture design seems to borrow

tidbits from a half dozen other pistols: pyramidal shapes here, vertical

striations there, horizontals elsewhere, and logography thrown in to

please the marketing/branding folks. It has swappable back straps

tooone arched, one flat, both with lanyard loops.

A final detail: Of the fixed beavertail pistols, we like the FNS best.

Theres plenty of material here to keep very meaty hands protectedfrom slide bite, and also to render an over-high grip (with the same

literally bloody result) essentially impossible. We raise the point

because we know of a competing pistola pretty darn good one in

many other respectsthat arches the beavertail too far over the web of

the hand. It feels great at the store or the armory, but doesnt work well

with the anatomy of some hands: We had no slide bite, but it left us

blistered, then bleeding after only 120 rounds. This is old advice, but

still sound: If at all possible, test shoot before you buy.

| | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | |


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The inside of the FNS 9L is as reassuring as

the outside, and getting a look at it is another

simple pleasure. In a popular, useful homageto

the P38 (Walther, pre-WWII), takedown proceeds from an emptied,

slide-locked pistol by means of a single, left side, frame-mounted

lever rotated down and forward. Release of the slide lock and striker

then allows the slide to come off the pistol to the front. So easy a

caveman well, you get the idea.

The interior of the slide evinces no mysteries, though the radiused

lower lock-up and what appear to be relief channels on both the

barrel hood and slide strike us as clever

indeed. They provide plenty of surface

to be lubricated and bear wear and

stress, yet ample room for combustion

by-products and environmental

contaminants to be cleared by slideaction long before they can degrade

functioning or accuracy.

In terms of surprises, the polymer

frame has a few. Most obvious are the

substantial frame rails. Not only are the

rails much larger in surface area relative

to competing designs, but they are

replaceable, too. It speaks volumes about

FNSs confidence in the durability of their design that such a provision

exists, but it also adds the abilitythrough a replacement of the rear

set (which contains the striker release mechanism)to field a version

of the FNS with an ambidextrous external thumb-actuated safety.

We saw no indication whatever that such a safety is needed since

the pistol already boasts the ubiquitous drop, disconnector and

trigger safeties. Deduction leads us to the conclusion that certain

commercial opportunities are enhanced by this capacity.

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The rails are

much largerthan competingdesigns, andreplaceable too.

INSIDE


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The channel just forward of thechamber aids debris clearance, and

simplifies barrel/slide lock-up fitting.

There is plenty oflock-up and rail realestate. Center is thebeefy ejector. Railsare replaceableaninvitation to shoot

your 9L a lot!


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Slide half of the lock work:Striker pre-sets on slide motion,and is noticeably powerfulgreat medicine for hard primers.Silverish ovoid is the far endof the trigger safety system,blocking striker movement untilthe trigger is pressed.

As we said, thisis the best ambimag releaseweve seen. Itsavailable onboth sides, allthe time. A good

look at that largetrigger guardtoo.

Loaded chamber indicationis both visual and tactileon the extractor claw.Ready to go, as shown.

WARRIORWARE


R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R R I O R W A


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While the FNSisnt exactly a new

pistol, there are not a tremendous number

out there yet, and our experience with

them is limited. Consequently, we warmed up as we would with a new design:function and projectile shape tests.

Function tests start with all possible round counts for the magazine, zero to X

(where X is maximum capacity). Mainly the results tell us two things: Does the

slide lock back as it should, and do all states of magazine spring tension still

allow cartridges to chamber correctly (or, for instance, does the slide get balky with

maximum up-pressure on it from a fully-loaded magazine)?

These tests also vary projectile type/shape as widely as practical to test whether

particular projectile geometries and/or OALs make a given pistol malfunction.

With one rare exception (more on this later), the 9L was superb. We happened to

have an unusually wide variety of 9mm ammunition available when we conducted

these tests, and the FNS breezed through them. Short OALs were no issue, even

down to 1.020 inches, while bullets as heavy as 162 grains stabilized well in the

cold hammer-forged, 1:10 twist barrel. The barrel and long sight radius yielded

superb accuracy too.

Once these basic functions of the pistol were vetted and we moved on to some

tactical/practical exercises, the true excellence of the FNS 9L became apparent.

First, the mag release: This simple function andyoud thinkpart, have alternatelytortured and delighted designers and shooters for decades, but the best stock one

weve yet seen is on the FNS. Yes, we actually said itthe best, period.

The mag release is ambidextrous as we mentioned, but utterly without

compromise on the 10-percenter side. The complexity of the shape at the micro level

has an almost Frank Lloyd Wright sort of eleganceand functional excellenceat the

macro level. Seriously: If you dont take a look and think Guggenheim rotunda, we

want to know what doescome to mind. But we digress.

Its the proper length: Our primary shooter may be the shortest-thumbed dude

in the world, but even he can run it without a re-grip. Yet despite this length, its

delicately recessed enough that we couldnt induce an inadvertent mag release, nor

find a grip that was a problem for the weak-side hand. We also failed to find any

issues on the strong side: There was no back pressure fighting activation from the

palm or knuckle of the trigger finger, and easy activation with the trigger finger on the

master side if needed.

Next to impress us was the grip texture and architecture. The FNS lacks the

swoopy curves and extensive girth variations of other pistols in the class, and only

offers two backstraps. And as we noted, the texture seems like a hodgepodge

AT THE RANGE

: : : : : W A R R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R R I O R W A R E : : : : : W A R


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of characteristics borrowed from other pistols. But our shooting results suggest

all those options and consistencies on other pistols dont fair that well by

comparison. The exceptionally secure feel of the L9 grip is impressive, with dirt and

contaminants overcome with particular ease. Nowhere is this more obvious than in

either strong or weak hand-only shooting: This is where the small native dimensions

and positionally optimized textures constitute a tangible advantage.

A caution here: If you just pick up an FNS, the texture may seem too aggressive.

Certainly it did to us. But

700 rounds latter, we have one new,

small callous, but wouldnt change

a thing. In any case, itd be easy

to knock the texture down a little

if your accommodation was less

complete than ours. (Beware that

such a mod may not be legal forsome competitive classes, however.)

The FNS does not boast a

particularly light trigger, but it isnt

heavy either. Our scale showed

5.4 poundsabout average for

a stock pistol in this class. But

in our hands at least, the 9L

performed like a muchlighter

trigger. We attribute this mainly to the verticality of the trigger facejust as the shot breaks, and to a relatively short reset. The striker

action is of the pre-set variety, wherein the striker is tensioned

for firing by slide, not trigger, movement. Very few will even notice

theyre releasing a safety during trigger press.

Short stroking was the only issue we encountered, and that very, very rarely. A

little analysis linked this to one very specific batch of ammunition, and we were

able to reproduce the issue in another brand of pistol, similarly sprung. So it was

obviously an ammo lot issue.This begs comment, though in two parts. First, always, always, alwayscheck your

ammunition, as identically labeled lots vary, especially with powder availability as

chancy as it has been the last two years. Anybody who tells you different is selling

something, and perhaps a dangerous something.

Second, we dont second-guess the spring rate/guide rod combination on the

9L at all in relation to this theoretic issue. Why is simple: With every other type of

ammunition we tested, we found the FNS superbly, exceptionally flat in recoil over

a huge range of bullet weights, types and powers, thumpy defensive loads included.

In our experience, only tuned systems have been better, none by much, and noneover such a wide range.

Every aspect ofthe grip textureis carefully

considered, and, wethink, marvelouslyfunctional.


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Sendin Some DownrangeThe FNS 9L meets Andy Reinhart, 2012 Rocky Mountain 300 Shoot-off Winner.


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Were betting noone will be surprised by ashort gripe list for the FNS 9L.

We had only one, to be precise. We found

that the well-intentioned guard molded into the frame around the

slide release over-protects the control from accidental activation.

Paradoxically, our shooting grip is one that makes this a good feature.

We found that more, or at least more precise, pressure was required

to release the slide than we expected.

In fairness, wed have to observe that release of the slide using the

lever is a fine motor task, and hence suited only for administrative

handling. Certainly wed not call it any sort of deal-breaker, especially

since sound technique will answer: When actually shooting, grasp the

slide overhand from the weak side, pull it to the rear, and release it

immediately (absolutely do not try to ride or push it forward, youre far

more likelyto create a pinch or mis-feed hazard than to aid feeding).

This no-slide-release-involved technique ought to be practiced a lot

anywayfor another obvious reason: Its an absolutely crucial step in

rapid, effective malfunction clearance.We hold another gripe in abeyance. If you find yourself in a

round count-limited state, youll see that the 10-rounders for your

FNS series pistol are of the dimpled and body-cut variety. You may

share our bitter experience following the 1994 Crime Bill: Expensive

magazines could and did simply explode at the count-limiting

cut, and unrepairably so. What should have been a warranty item

infuriatingly wasnt, and replacements were madeapparentlyof

unobtainium.

Looks to us as though the FNS mags are proof against these

failures in two ways: The dimpling is a corrugation to the mag body,

which in theory makes it stronger, while still limiting staggered round

descent and hence round count. The nature of the cut is different too:

Instead of being perpendicular and symmetric around the body, the

FNS cut is angled, and much thinner (done by laser, we suppose)

and intersects the large, offset dimples. This leaves more metal intact,

and limits any flex below the fatigue level. We worked ours hard with

no hint of difficulty. Bullet, dodged.

GRIPES


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| F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | F N S | | | | Worththe wait.


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ight up front, we confess:

Our rifle(s) and shop are

littered with Magpul gear.Now, however, weve encountered

a new and particularly cunning

Magpul schemeour surfeit of Magpul kit is somehow

not enough. Their new MOE SL line of furniture is

practically forcing us to field another AR, fit end-to-end

with the slimmer (hence SL) components. Diabolical!

RMAGPULMOE SL

WARRIORWARE



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Or maybe not.

Either way, the new SL components appeal for sound

reasons. Trimmer dimensions always translate to better

maneuverability, and you wont often find yourselfhung up by inches, but rather tenths, or even a few

hundredths. Stuck is still stuck, and the SL grip, stock

and forearm reduce that chance without sacrificing

Magpul quality and durability.

While cosmetically similar to existing Magpul

offerings, a sharp eye and ready caliper show up the

differences quickly. The SL handguard for instance

shaves a whopping .54 inches off issue width. This puts the rifle deeper in the

support/forward hand with obvious benefits. Were big fans of the migrationaway from full-round fore-ends/handguards, and toward rounded corners on

a more rectangular cross-section. The resulting edge/corner creates a firmer

control on the front of your rifle. The gently elliptical bottom is also better than

round if the rifle must be rested here for a longer shot. Magpul also has a

reallynifty variety of rail fitments for their handguards too, with mounting slots

at the 2:30, 6:00 and 9:30 positions. They cut weight and more bulk/width

without sacrificing precise position options, and no cheese grater effect.

The SL grip is .13 inches thinner than issue, but adds .37 inches of depth.Once more, the discerning will generally appreciate the superior position this

gives for trigger actuation.

The tremendous number of stock variations makes this difference

harder to quantify, but the average difference still shaded to the SL: Its

.2 inches thinner than several others we measured. And we really love the

ambi paddles for length adjustment, which makes the stock uncommonly

sure-handed, especially in firing positions where its difficult (or unwise) to

reach over the top of the rifle.

So we (boringly? repetitively? unnecessarily?) say again: Well done Magpul.

Were arguing theimprovementshere arent simply

incremental. Not onlymore maneuverablefor us all, but easierto handle for shooterswith smaller handsas well.


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PHOTOSBYMICH

AELIVES

A little redshowingtheregreat for

preserving thosenight eyes.

Brightnesssettings areextremely wellchosen to mixbattery life andavailable light.Wed forgottenhow bright 70lumens is.

The plugcompartmentseals up well too,

with a gasket andtether.

WARRIORWARE



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Okso we are obsessed. The

upside is that we know a good one

when we see it, and Streamlights

ClipMate fits that description in somany ways.

This task-class light simply rocks.

As the name implies, it has a clip, and a good one. Weve clipped it to belts,

waistbands, pockets (shirt and pants), collars and hat brims, all with great

retention. This is due partly to the clip itself, which grabs the ClipMates

polymer housing through 270 degrees and is reinforced with four screws. The

remainder results from a stand-off style mount for the clip. Flush-mount clips

apply pressure that actually vectors away from whatever you clip to; not sowith the ClipMate.

Getting the light where you need it is the real issue. Enter the metal

gooseneck. Short enough to match the body of the light in form factor,

this protects it in pocket or kit. But its also long enough to corner in any

direction. Thats right, a full 90 degrees (a little more, actually), and it stays

where you point it.

As if that isnt enough, it runs white (C4 LED) and night vision-saving

red. Full power white is 70 lumens with 3.5-hour endurance, bumping up to

24 hours at 10 lumens (low). Red run times are solid too: 16 hours on high(.5 lumens), and an astonishing 65 hours on low (.2 lumens). All with IPX4

water resistance.

The coup de grceis charging methods. A tour of the house, car and

office showed us 34 different places to charge this baby, and thats without

unplugging anything else. The not-so-secret method, of course, is the built-in

USB plug. Just pull off the end cap, and charge away.

Funny thing: The available settings are so versatile weve yet to recharge

the darn thing in two months of fairly steady use.

Were getting one. More. Or maybe some.

ere not obsessed with flashlights. Its only luck

that we remember the first really cool one we eversaw (Sanyo NL-421 Cadnica, circa 1966). That doesnt

prove a thing. And just because weve bought case lots as

Christmas gifts is hardly dispositive. Drawers full? Hardly.

Well, er, just that big one.

W

STREAMLIGHT

CLIPMATE


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We found the PRO as functional as it iselegant, in that all-business, no-messin-around sort of way. We ran it on 18-inchand 14.5-inch DI rifles, a 16-inch piston,and a PCC AR with equal success. Wecouldnt, however, recommend it for oh, wait; never mind.

PRO on a PCC AR. Youll see moreof this in AW 23.

WARRIORWARE


PHOTOBYALLISONERNEST


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The latest arrival is the

Aimpoint PROthe Patrol

Rifle Optic. It joins a nearly

40-year parade of products

from the inventors of the

electronic red dot sight but

puts a special focus on law

enforcement applications.

The mounting system/

hardware captured our

attention right away. Asingle knurled knob on

the left side is the only

attachment kit youll need for an AR-pattern rifle. That knob is a torque-limited

ratchet that puts the optic on your rail with optimal tension every time. And set up

for co-witness? You bet: The ideal riser/ring (30 mm) comes pre-configured.

Controls and access on the PRO are another clever combination of engineering

and execution. To lose either windage or elevation adjustment caps or the battery

compartment cover, youd have to remove all three at the same time, joined as

they are by a rubber keeper. Like the rail ratchet, the caps are genuinely toolless,

and thoroughly waterproof (to 150 feet).

Threads on the caps are not overly fine either; this is always tempting as it

makes waterproofing easier, but makes cross threading more likely. The Aimpoint

strikes a near-perfect balance, we believe.

We like the battery choice, too: a tiny-but-not-too-tiny DL1/3N (or 2L76). Its

a widely available, time-tested camera battery thats been repurposed and has a

continuous runtime in the PRO of about 30,000 hours.

In addition to legendary durability, a crucial Aimpoint differentiator over theyears has been optical clarity and representation of an accurate impact point,

edge-to-edge. We pushed this pretty hard, but could find no material chink. That

2-MOA dot stayed round, sharp-edged and right on POI wherever we put it in the

field of view. The fine optics come well-protected too, with multi-layer coatings and

pop-up covers.

The Aimpoint PRO wants for nothing: Its a trim, tough, easy-to-operate

11-ounce gem that youll mount, sight in, andin the best senseforget, shot after

shot, year after year.

Like Aimpoint says, Weve done the science; you pull the trigger.

heres a lot of sighing around

the office when Aimpoint sendsus something. Mainly, weve

concluded, it is because our rifle count

goes beyond our Aimpoint count.TAIMPOINT PATROL

RIFLE OPTIC


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WARNING: Technical data and information contained in NRA American Warriorare intended to provide information based on the limited experience of

individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions

absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference

manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.

PHOTOBYMICHAELIVES

Just about anythingthat keeps us pullingthe trigger is worthinvestigating, we figure.The TacSol Glock RimfireConversion flanks threecaliber conversionbarrels from Lone WolfDistributors.

Just when were trying to rebuildour cache of .22 LR, along comesthe TacSol. 200 roundspffftgone!

PHOTOBYALLISONERNEST


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DEST INYT H E F U L L G A M E R E V I E W>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>

VIRTUALWARRIORGAMES & VIDEOS


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Email the Editor

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Destiny: Competitive Multiplayer Trailer

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N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R

V I R T U A L W A R R I O R / / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2


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Availability: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4($59.99)

GAMES

D E S T I N Y V I D E O G



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in the final delivered version, we think Bungie did a classic over-hype,

then under-delivered.The offset between the beta and final is probably reflected best in the

creativity that has been funneled into the seemingly innumerable weapon

and armor choices. To find fault here, youd reallyhave to nit-pick. We couldntfind a single sort of weapon that wasnt either there or for which there was a

very close proxy (other than the ridiculous, that is).

As far as the multiplayer mode is concerned,

the crumble provides another outlet for leveling

your player if you do get a little tired of the story.

The only downside is level disparity: It makes

a huge difference in this mode (i.e., a low level

player get owned easily by anyone 5+ levels

above, however good his tactics).

We should also note that there are two (as yet unspecified) expansion

packs that are already well into development, with the first set to arrive

in December.

Overall, we still find this to be a very enjoyable game, and the tech on

display gets our highest marks. Weaknesses in the story, however, bust it backjust a little.

GAMES

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Destiny: Live Action Trailer

Destiny: Launch Gameplay Trailer

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FOOTBALLV

TWO GAMERS COMPARE FIFA 15 AND MADDEN 15

Email the Editor Visit the Gear Channel

15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > > MADDEN 15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > > MADDEN 15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > > MA

GAMES


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FUTBOLS.

N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R

V I R T U A L W A R R I O R / / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

N 15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > > MADDEN 15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > > MADDEN 15 > > > > FIFA 15 > > > >

FIFA BY

CORY FOSTER

MADDEN BYBEAU JUDGE


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BJ:Well, first off, this isAmerica. We play real footballhere, and not just with ourfeet. The kind where theresactual contact, not just dancing

around dabbing at a ball ona piece of grass. In our version of the game, we regularly bleedon that grass. Now and again, we even peel it off our faces. Andas far asMadden 15is concerned, you get to take control ofthese bruise-generating leviathans and attempt to obliterate youropponent the right waysix points at a time. Against the CPU oranother human player somewhere across the country, crushin em

is the name of our game. Is that far superior to manipulating thethumb sticks to orchestrate a turf ballet? Obviously.

FIFA: Next-Gen Goalkeepers

GAMES


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Madden: General Gameplay

CF: So let's go aheadand disregard the factthat soccer is the mostpopular sport in the

world. We can ignorethe global phenomenon

of the World Cup, and forget about the fact that evencrickethas more players and fans around the worldthan so-called American football. To this giganticaudience,FIFA 15brings the staggering roster ofplayers and teams from previous versions, but turns thespeed up a notch to make a solid addition to the line-upof titles running on the new Ignite engine.

Email the Editor

Like Us on Facebook

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FIFA: E3 Trailer

CF:If you're feeling particularly patriotic, thenlets go all the way: Scrub the shabby, antiquatedregional kerfuffles and go global. All 19 MLSteams and the U.S. National team are availablefor that so-called turf ballet. Player collisions,acrobatic header contests and slide tacklesshow realathletes at work, and with no more

protection than a thin plastic plate over theirshins. The game you actually play witha footand keep playingwithout theshameless commercial halts to check

for nasty hangnails and bruised egos every fivepicoseconds.FIFA 15keeps the action going untilthere is a serious foul or the ball leaves the field.

GAMES

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GAMES

Madden: Ultimate Team

BJ:Hey, if the rest of the world isnt up to it,how does that get to be our problem? We feelplenty patriotic with the 32 NFL teams weve gothere in the U.S. (how many more world-classathletes are left anyway?), and all available onMadden 15. Blast the stops if you want, butthats what makes for a continuously evolving

strategy that gives you complete control,putting that hard-won football IQ to the test. Theplay-changing audibles on both sides of the ball,the subtle shifts of individual playersthese arewhat make theMaddenfranchise great. You canpaste your own likeness on a player in both

MaddenandFIFA. Its your choice as to whetherits on a football stud or a soccer ballerina.


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BJ & CF:Despite all the bickering and joking, both of thesegames are great additions to their respective franchises andbring an awfully high percentage of the fun of the actualgame right into your living room. They add many newfeatures and retain popular existing ones that we have come

to associate withMaddenandFIFA. Well done, across theboard, er, field, er pitch. You know, the green stuff.

(But football is still better than futbol.)

R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / / /

Email the Editor

FIFA: Barclays Premier League

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GA

Email the Editor

Madden: War in the Trenches

FIFACF:Well-liked are thecareer modes available in

both franchises, which have

both gotten some nice tweaks tothe player growth functionality that

rewards the time you put into growinga great team. If you happen to be managing a team that needspicture books and pep talks in between plays, you will also have theoption to show your players instructional films to (hopefully) makesome of the information sink in. The players who know the gameand their position on the pitch can move straight along to practicedrills and actual league play where the only audible that matters isGOOOAAAALLLL! But a point forMadden 15: It will save you the19 hours it takes to watch an actual football game.

R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / / / / N R A A M E R I C A N W A R R I O R / /

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Get equipped with new downloadable content.

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American Sniper TrailerDirector Clint Eastwood brings Chris Kyle's story to the big screen.

World's Fastest Police CarsTo whom should we send our application for employment?

VIDEOS 4 CLIC


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Fighter Pilot CompilationBecause it's awesome ... that's why.

S TO TARGET

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Cop for a Day

Watch this before you consider a career change.


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rom end to end, Colts LE6940 Series is utterly professional grade.

A patented monolithic upper tops the rifle from gas block

to charging handle, providing an unbroken span of rail to

mountand remountyour optic systems. Rock-solid side

and bottom rails take your other accessories, and a gas block

mounted flip-up front sight and Magpul MBUS rear mean youll

always have backups at the ready.Despite their compact dimensions, the 6940 rifles make no accuracy

concessions. Both the direct impingement and piston versions offer a

true free-floating 16.1-inch chrome-lined barrel for enhanced precision

at any distance.

S P O N S O R E D B Y

BY FRANK WINNGuns & Gear Editor


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BARREL/OVERALL LENGTH16.1"/32" (collapsed)/35.5" (stock extended)

CALIBER5.56x45 NATO

MODEL NUMBER LE6940 LE6940P

WEIGHT LE6940 6.7 poundsLE6940P 7.2 pounds

MAGAZINE CAPACITYVariable

MSRP LE6940 $1,546 LE6940P $2,105


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At the Warrior Games,one event rises above allothers when it comes to thehealing power of sport.


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ANY OF MY BEST friends at

the Olympic Training Center

complex in Colorado Springs

are Paralympic athletes. Im also close to many former and current warriors in

various military branches. However, my experience at the 2014 Warrior Games

touched me more deeply than I ever expected.

For many wounded military members, the wounds penetrate much deeper

than what is outwardly visible. Take the Marines, for example. Every day theytrain to be the best of the best. When they become ill, injured or wounded, the

challenges change. When a Marine loses physical health, a part of his former

identity is also lost.

While its easy to see the competitive aspect of the Warrior Games,

the value actually runs much deeperespecially in the shooting events.

Maj. John Schwent, USMC (Retired), is head coach of the Marine shooting team

at the Warrior Games. He said that when his Marines are handed an air rifle,

they view it as not being a real gun, as they are used to shooting military style

weapons. But once they begin shooting air rifles, they realize how difficult it is.

Suddenly theyve discovered another way to push their limits.

For Gunnery Sgt. Pedro Aquino, who medaled four times this year, the positive

effect shooting has on his daily life is purely mental. Excelling at

air rifle shooting requires extreme focus and thought control. When he was

forced to go off painkillers to concentrate, his intensity increased; pain only

became a distraction.

Every time Im behind those sights, my head clears and all Im focusing on

is that pellet, Aquino explained.

In past Warrior Games, MSgt. Dionisios Nicholas has medaled multiple times

By Sarah M.F. Beard

Photos By Don Jones


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L E F T A N D P R E V I O U S P A GE :

S G T A N D R E B U R G O S & G U N N Y

Despite amputations above the right knee and

on the left hand (partial), there seems to be no

stopping point for Burgos and his service dog

Gunny. Burgos is currently well on his way to a

degree with magna cum laude honors and uses

shooting to sharpen his goal-setting for school and

overall success in life. For him, Short-term goal is

make a good shot. Long-term goal is win the match.

in shooting and swimming. This year, back surgery left him unable to compete,

so he was asked to be on the coaching staff.

While swimming helps him heal physically, shooting is completely different

due to the concentration involved. When Im shooting, there is no pain,

Nicholas said. Im in my own world. Theres no way to describe it.

Competitive shooting acts as therapy not only in the physical sense, but also

in restoring purpose to the lives of these individuals. For many of these warriors,

a common effect of medication is a loss of a sense of normalcy. But when a

shooter overcomes the effects of medication to compete at a higher level, he

becomes himself again.

Its therapy, Davis said. Its absolutely therapy, because you feel a

purpose again.

At the 2014 games in early October, the Marines dominated the medal

count, more than doubling the shooting medals of any other branch. While

proud of that accomplishment, team coaches look beyond the glistening

medals and instead focus on the renewed glow in their athletes eyes.

At the end of the day, this program exists because we are truly trying to

save lives, Schwent said.

Sarah Beard is a member of the U.S. Shooting Team,currently in training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in

Colorado Springs.

8/10/2019 NRA American Warrio

NRA American Warrior Issue 22

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