S.W.A.T. December 2007 - McKeesport Police Department

LONG GUNS
Bushmaster’s .450 Rifle & Hornady’s
Bushmaster .450
Ammunition
combine AR
Power with
250 Grains
of Thump!
Writer/Hunter J. Guthrie with 295 lb. So. Carolina Boar
Photo by Bill Battles
www.bushmaster.com
agencies that may occasionally use night
vision equipment can purchase the ISM-
V at a fraction of the cost of the ISM-IR.
In fact, larger agencies could acquire the
ISM-IR for special tactical units and the
ISM-V for patrol units. The availability
of an array of brightness settings is important
in a red dot sight, since different
brightness levels will work better in varying
light conditions. One 3-volt 123A lithium
battery powers both the red dot and
the visible laser. The unit is waterproof
to three feet for up to an hour. This isn’t
combat swimmer water resistance, but it
should suffice for use in rain or snow.
Another very positive feature of the
ISM-V is that it is well designed to allow
use of iron sights through it, should one
so desire. If one carries a spare battery
and replaces the installed battery if the
ISM-V’s status indicator LED starts to
flash, it is unlikely that backup sights will
be required with the ISM-V. I still like the
capability, though, and I discovered that
the flip-up ARMS #40 sight on the Stag
Arms carbine works perfectly with the
ISM-V.
On any optical sight with more than
one control, I always try to see where it
rates on the KISS scale. The ISM-V rates
pretty well. A “+” and a “-” intensity pads
atop the ISM-V are used to turn the red
dot on (by pressing both pads simultaneously),
off (also by pressing both pads
simultaneously), or to adjust for brightness.
That’s nice and straightforward. A
mode selector switch on the back of the
ISM-V allows selection of four modes-
”O” for off, “P” for program, which is not
currently used, “RD” for the red dot, and
“VA” for the visible aiming laser. The red
dot may be activated in either the RD or
VA position. The visible aiming laser may
be activated in the VA mode by depressing
the laser activation button on the side
of the ISM-V. The ISM-V is well designed
so the laser is not inadvertently activated.
This is important to protect eyesight, but
also to not telegraph one’s position with
a laser that can be followed back to the
carbine. I worked with the controls for
a few minutes before taking the carbine
with the ISM-V mounted to the range
and became fairly confident with it.
I don’t consider red dot sights optimum
for longer ranges. I usually view
a red dot sight as most effective at CQC
46 S.W.A.T. » DECEMBER 2007 SWATMAG.COM