PMCI - December 2019

DEC 2019
CONTENTS
4 LONDON CALLING! THE PMCI UK TEAM BRING US AN OVERVIEW FROM THE SUPERB DSEI
IN LONDON AND SHARE THEIR GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM THIS YEARS SHOW!
10 THE FADE: BILL LOOKS AT THE “GREY GEAR PHENOMENON” AND HOW INDUSTRY GIANT
5.11 TACTICAL HAVE EMBRACED AND ENHANCED THE CONCEPT
15 EDITORS COMMENT
16 GEAR ON TEST: “GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS” BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PMCI TEAM
20 TACTICAL INNOVATION: SNUGPAK: FEELING CHILLY THIS WINTER? CHECK OUT THE
LATEST IN THERMAL PROTECTION OFFERED BY UK SPECIALIST SNUGPAK
24 GEAR: WISPORT PMCI TAKES A LOOK AT A POLISH PACK MANUFACTURER THAT REALLY
DESERVES YOUR ATTENTION!
28 TECH: SIONYX: WE’RE JOINED AGAIN THIS ISSUE BY OUR GOOD FRIEND ROB S WHO
BRINGS US THE BENEFITS OF “SEEING IN COLOUR AT NIGHT” THANKS TO SIONYX
30 FIREARMS: SIG 938: SMALL IT MAY BE, BUT WHAT A PACKAGE! CLINT TELLS ALL…
34 KNIVES AND TOOLS: THE RHODES “CHOPPER”: TRAMPAS TALKS TO CELEBRITY
SHOOTER AND BLADESMITH DUSTIN RHODES ABOUT HIS LATEST CREATION!
38 SPECIAL REPORT: TORRENT AK SUPPRESSORS: TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HOW
“OPERATORS” HAVE ALL THE FUN? PMCI CHECKS OUT SOME INNOVATIVE SUPPRESSORS
MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE AK PLATFORM
42 TOOLS OF THE TRADE: ASP BATONS REVISITED!: TRAMPAS GETS IN EARLY WITH A
FULL REVIEW OF ASP’S BRAND NEW TALON INFINITY MODEL!
45 BOOK REVIEW: “BATTLE FOR SKYLINE RIDGE: THE CIA SECRET WAR IN LAOS”
46 6MM TRAINING: ATTACKSENSE TARGETS: CHAMPIONING THE 6MM TRAINING
INITIATIVE BILL BRINGS US NEWS OF A SUPERB NEW TARGET SYSTEM THAT’S DESTINED TO
TAKE YOUR SHOOTING WORKOUT TO WHOLE NEW LEVEL!
50 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE.
Editor (UK): Bill Thomas
Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson
Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/
Deadshot Design
Publisher: Nigel Streeter
Cover pic: SMG
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2

T E L L T H E T I M E ,
A L L T H E T I M E .
Tr i t i u m i l l u m i n a t e d w a t c h e s
t h a t s t ay v i s i b l e a l l n i g h t .
E xc l u s i vely av a i l a b l e o n l i n e
W W W. N I T E WATC H E S .C O M

DSEI 2019
TIME FLIES IT WOULD SEEM AND IT FEELS A LOT LESS THAN TWO YEARS SINCE THE BEHEMOTH
SHOW THAT IS DSEI WAS IN TOWN! ONCE AGAIN THOUGH, THE PMCI UK TEAM TRAVELLED TO THE
EXCEL CENTRE IN LONDON TO ATTEND THE DEFENCE AND SECURITY EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL
(DSEI) SHOW 2019 AND NOW LAND THEIR REPORT ON THIS BI-ANNUAL SPECTACULAR OF ALL
THINGS MILITARY AND SECURITY!
When we paid a visit to DSEI in 2017 the
talk was all tightened defence spending, if
not outright cuts in funding, and two years
on this continues to be a heated topic for
discussion with talk of even further slashes
to manpower on the horizon. With the
continuing cuts to procurement budgets it
becomes increasingly important that new
and innovative ways are found to counter
the prevailing threats that we find ahead
of us, and the DSEI show aims to showcase the very best of them.
DSEI brings to the international procurement community
a unique format featuring nearly 1,700 exhibitors with 4
international pavilions that attracts over 36,000 visitors including
international delegations from existing and both traditional and
developing defence and security markets with over 300 world
class speakers.
The complexity of both national and international security
grows each and every year, and DSEI aims to provide a “one stop
shop” for inter-operability by melding the areas of maritime, land,
air and even cyber in one place at one time.
DSEI 2019
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6DSEI 2019
In 1993 the British Army Equipment
Exhibition and the Royal Navy
Equipment Exhibition were
combined and held every other
year until the British government
decided to privatise the exhibition.
Exhibitions company Spearhead
launched the first DSEI, then
known as Defence and Systems
Equipment International, in 1999
at Chertsey in Surrey. In 2001 it
moved to its current location at
the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in
London Docklands. DSEI’s name
was changed in 2009, replacing
the word Systems with Security.
In April 2008, DSEI was
acquired by Clarion Events. The
Clarion Events’ portfolio of defence
and security events is acknowledged as the world’s leading
forums where high level government officials and senior military
personnel converge. Leading global equipment and services
providers meet to share ideas, discuss industry developments,
conduct business, and develop partnerships and network for
future growth. Whilst military systems and technology are
at the core of the industry and the events, the sector is also
diversifying and adapting to meet the changing needs of the
world. In addition to the threat of war, national security can
be threatened by humanitarian disasters resulting in mass
displacement of people or food and water shortages, terrorism
or pandemic.
All defence and security exhibitions in the UK including DSEI
can serve only the legitimate defence and security industry
which is the most tightly regulated industry in the
world. This means exhibitors and visitors must adhere to the
highest regulatory scrutiny, complying with UK and international
laws, treaties and conventions. DSEI itself works closely
with government departments including MOD, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, BIS and Home Office to ensure this strict
compliance with all rules, regulations and laws. Furthermore,
the UK Government itself is responsible for inviting international
delegations.
2019 CAPABILITY ZONES
DSEI is divided into dedicated capability zones to make it more
manageable to navigate, as it truly is a gargantuan show!
DSEI 2019 featured its strongest aerospace offering to date,
comprising fixed, rotary wing, and unmanned platforms. The
popular Aerospace Zone was fully supported by the Royal Air

Force and Joint Helicopter Command and included a capability area
dedicated to the aerospace supply chain. With an impressive array
of static displays expected to feature around the ExCeL concourse,
as well as a notable line up of rotary assets operating in the
maritime domain, DSEI was the must-attend event for the entire
aerospace sector. Supported by the RAF, the expanding Aerospace
Zone encompassed an impressive array of static displays to
compliment a number of aerospace supply chain exhibitors. The
Zone also included a newly formed Hub dedicated to Space, as
well as the popular Air Seminar featuring high-level military and
industry speakers, including Chief of the Air Staff.
The Naval Zone was the most comprehensive dedicated Naval
Zone in DSEI history. This year the Zone incorporated specialist naval
exhibitors and was fully supported by the First Sea Lord and Royal
Navy. The Naval Zone was one of DSEI 2019’s greatest strengths,
a unique and interactive showcase of the latest vessels and
maritime technology. DSEI’s distinctive dockside setting delivers
a dazzling showcase of maritime capabilities and international
warships. Fully supported by the Royal Navy and First Sea Lord,
the Naval Zone provided unrivalled networking opportunities,
insights from key decision makers and the opportunity to see the
industry’s latest vessels in action through interactive presentations
and waterborne demonstrations.
The Land Zone for DSEI 2019 grew even further than before,
and surpassed the achievements of the 2017 event by introducing
new features such as a dedicated showcase which opened up
opportunities for even more suppliers to attend. The Land Zone
is DSEI’s largest zone, featuring the latest in vehicles, weapons,
ammunitions and equipment, and is the place where you’re most
likely to find the PMCI team at the show! Supported the British
Army, the Land Zone is your best opportunity to see first-hand the
latest developments and innovations from international exhibitors
and align yourself with the needs and requirements of the British
Army and other governments.
The dedicated Security Zone showcased security equipment
and systems to counter priority threats, such as Cyber Attacks
and terrorism, as well as an enlarged Special Forces and tactical
equipment area. DSEI 2019 once again centralised the security
sector’s expertise with a bespoke community in order to increase
networking opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors.
Showcased within the Security Zone were products and services
ranging from security & special forces training, tactical equipment,
perimeter security covert & overt surveillance & camera equipment
and PPE.
DSEI 2019 also saw an enhanced Joint Zone with a plethora
of products from exhibitors. The Joint Zone featured the latest
DSEI 2019
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8DSEI 2019
products and innovations servicing the whole Defence
and Security Community with 3 key hubs: Communication,
Medical and Innovation. The Zone offered a real plethora of
products from exhibitors within the following sectors: C4ISTAR,
Communications, DIO, Electronic Warfare, Joint Enablers, Logistics,
Medical, Robotics & Telemedicine.
GOOD BUSINESS FOR LONDON
As with any major defence show DSEI has its share of critics, but
in a world where borders and allegiances are shifting seemingly
on a daily basis, the importance of the show as a benefactor to
the UK economy should not be undervalued. The UK defence
industry represents ten per cent of UK high technology
manufacturing and is the number one exporter in Europe,
second only to the US globally. DSEI, which is based at ExCeL
London, is a crucial part of that industry. The industry employs
over 300,000 people and generates billions of pounds per year
for the UK economy. The industry also works hand-in-hand with
the UK Armed Forces from factory to frontline, for example over
6,000 industry personnel that worked directly alongside troops
in Afghanistan, and in other theatres.
The economic benefits are not just about the defence
industry either, but directly benefit the London economy itself.
The thousands of exhibitors, visitors and contractors attending
DSEI occupy over 100,000 room-nights at London hotels during
the week of the event, generating an estimated £23m direct
benefit to the London economy in the process, even before
taking into account all of their associated expenditure on travel,
restaurants and the like across the capital during their stay.
As in 2017 we live in a world today where defence and
security budgets are all under scrutiny, if not direct attack, and
the DSEI show brings together the relevant “players” in the
community in one place at one time. If we are to be
protected we must support such shows as DSEI, not
protest against them. It
would be a naivety not to
acknowledge that millions,
if not billions change hands
at shows of this nature, but
if that money is well spent
to support a safer future
for all then it should be
seen as an investment, and
not a draw on increasingly
limited funding.
DSEI 2019 takes place
again in September 2021;
once again the PMCI Team
certainly enjoyed their
time at this year’s DSEI,
and we would like to
thank everyone that made
time to speak with us and
increase our understanding
of complex global security
and defence issues. We are
a humble publication, most
of us simple “footsloggers”,
in a vast marketplace;
whilst others look to the “bigger picture”, and we are thankful
that they do, our priority as ever is on the individual, the guys
that will have their boots in the mud on the front line, and it
always will be!
With that in mind, we hope that you’ll enjoy our
gallery of images from the 2019 show.

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THE FADE WITH 5.11 TACTICAL GEAR
THE FADE WITH 5.11 TACTICAL GEAR
THE WHOLE “GREY GEAR” IDEA HAS BEEN ANOTHER OF THOSE TRENDS IN THE TACTICAL WORLD THAT HAS
JUST CAUGHT ON, AND VIRTUALLY EVERY MANUFACTURER OUT THERE SEEMS TO HAVE THEIR “WOLF, SLATE,
STORM” OR SIMPLY PUT, GREY. BILL LOOKS INTO THIS PHENOMENON AND PICKS SOME PIECES FROM 5.11
THAT WORK FOR HIM!
We live largely in a “grey world”, both
in terms of built-environment but
also is relation to a lot of jobs that
the thoroughly modern contractor
may be faced with. Whilst most
things are written into “SOP”
sometimes it’s the “grey areas”
where these guidelines don’t seem
to fit that makes life… interesting!
A few years back I started to notice
that certain clothing and gear manufacturers were adopting
grey into their product lines; Arc’teryx LEAF in fairness were
probably the first of the “Names” to drive this forward in any
meaningful way, but others were lightning fast to follow their
lead and numerous manufacturers came together to create
mutually supportive and compatible clothing and tactical
gear that all worked well together as a system.
Now the idea behind this is a straightforward one; in
today’s modern urban environment we have a LOT of concrete
and tarmac so grey is an obvious choice to “blend in” to the
background. Previously tactical teams would inevitably be
drawn to the “traditional black gear”, but in reality black
actually sticks out like a sore thumb in most urban situations
10

as black is not a naturally occurring colour. Are shadows black, is
it black at night? You could argue that in both cases the answer
would be yes, but in reality, if you’ll pardon the expression, it’s
all shades of grey.
5.11 Tactical though took their time about things. They are a
huge international company that have the luxury of being able
to really work things through rather than just jumping on the
bandwagon for the sake of a quick buck. As much as 5.11 gear
has always been popular for “tacticool” casual wear they really
do build for the “real world” so every single thing that they
make has to be 100% fit for purpose. No corners are cut in terms
of fabrics, materials and construction, so when you buy into 5.11
you really are getting the “real deal”, not a dollar store copy
that’s going to come apart just because you look at it!
This is an interesting topic in itself, a conversation that came
up very recently with a good friend; He was kind enough to
share with me a very thought provoking article he had written
which addressed the need for “real gear” in relation to training
and leisure pursuits, and the conclusion that I personally drew
from it was that although we don’t need gear of this standard
(hopefully our weekend range day is not going to put our lives
on the line!) buying into it can actually be a financially sensible
thing to do.
As I always say, spend your money wisely! Yes, you’ll pay a
little more for gear from brands like 5.11, but in the long term it
will wear much, much better than cheap copies; I’ve got a pair
of ten year old tactical Pants that are still going to this day that
attest to this fact!
GOING GREY
As always with my personal gear I like to be able to have choice
and versatility based on one “core” set of kit, so the first choice
I had to make was the base for this. 5.11 offer a considerable
(HUGE!) range of shirts and trousers, but something on their
stand at back at SHOT 2015 really took my eye, and I bought
into it as soon as it was available and have been using it on
and off ever since! Enter the STRYKE Tactical Duty Uniform
(TDU)! This uniform is really a three component set that gives
a lot of flexibility. Crafted from highly durable 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac
mechanical stretch fabric and treated with DuPont Teflon Shield+
fabric protector for superb stain, liquid and soil resistance, the
new Stryke TDU Shirt from 5.11 features two canted front
chest pockets and sleeve pockets for increased storage, hidden
document pocket, together with Velcro adjustable cuffs and
mandarin collar for a truly personalised fit and overall comfort.
Additionally, the Stryke TDU Shirt comes with a YKK concealed
zip front, reinforced articulated elbows for added durability,
loop patch platform and an epaulette kit which can be sewn on
where you want them.
This highly practical shirt features the Flex-Tac, a revolutionary
fabric utilising proprietary fibers and developed exclusively for
5.11 Tactical. The lightweight, breathable, Polycotton Ripstop
incorporates mechanical stretch yarns, meaning the stretch and
recovery of the fabric is achieved without the use of Spandex. As
a result, the breathability, colour retention, and durability of the
Flex-Tac are superior to other Cotton / Spandex fabrics currently
in the market. If you favour more of a UBACS style shirt though
the Stryke TDU Rapid Shirt is probably the one to go for. This
model has a torso made from a highly flexible blend of Polyester
and Spandex material, and the shoulders and sleeves are made
of an exclusive 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac mechanical stretch fabric, again
treated with Teflon.
Crafted from a specialised proprietary blend of mechanical
stretch Polyester and Cotton material, the Stryke TDU Pants
are perfect for general use; they are made from a specialised
proprietary blend of mechanical stretch polyester and cotton
material, and are the perfect partner for either of the shirt
models. The TDU pants feature canted ergonomic cargo pockets,
double layered articulated knees and fully gusseted crotch for
superb freedom of movement in virtually any tactical situation.
The TDU pants come with stretch panels at the waist and
behind each knee, and are Teflon treated for stain, liquid and
soil resistance, and enhanced bartacking is used throughout for
increased durability and longevity.
THE FADE WITH 5.11 TACTICAL GEAR
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THE FADE WITH 5.11 TACTICAL GEAR
If however you like to run a little more “low key” then 5.11
offer some super “low profile” gear that’s made to the same
standards as the uniform pieces but will be equally at home
in the pub as in a firefight, and they come in patterns and
tones that fit well with an overall “grey” theme! The choice
of a good “cover garment” is paramount, which is why 5.11
added the new Tango Short-Sleeve Shirt to their line; the
Vent-Tac fabric falls naturally and allows airflow, while the
colours of the shirt themselves help reduce printing. There’s
also a RAPIDraw placket which gives the wearer fighting
functionality, along with a chest pocket with flap and pen
guide and branded metal case buttons and snaps. If you like
something even more relaxed, the plaids in the Echo Long
Sleeve Shirt give you colour and style options that blur the
lines between professional, undercover and smart casual.
A cotton/polyester blend feels as great as it looks. As for
tactical capability, the covert RAPIDraw placket provides swift
access to your CCW, and a hidden chest pocket securely stores
your phone or wallet. 5.11 branding on the neck tape, metal
ring snaps and other key features round out this design nicely.
Keeping with the more relaxed vibe, a real favourite
amongst the range for me is the old Diablo Hoodie which
was a bit of a classic! Made from 100% anti-pilling brushed
Polyester fleece, the Diablo featured a classic kangaroo-style
hand warmer pocket at the front, large protective hood with
integrated adjustable draw cord and zippered utility pocket
on left sleeve for additional storage. The Diablo Hoodie also
came with loop patch on the upper right sleeve, and tonal
contrast stitching gave it a great look. The Diablo featured
genuine YKK zippers for extra durability. Thanks to its
reinforced pockets and weather resistant construction, the
Diablo offered excellent freedom of movement with superb
protection against the wind, rain, and weather; I pretty much
live in mine and it’s one piece that I’m sad to see no longer
in the line, although you can still find them with selected
retailers.
GETTING RANGE READY
With clothing options sorted now it was time to get down to
business. First up I wanted a simple belt system so that I could
carry a backup handgun, it this case a G17, and affix a dump
pouch. 5.11 tactical belts are strong, durable and comfortable
multi-purpose belts with a low profile design which makes it
ideal for casual or tactical wear. They are perfect to carry a
holster and sidearm without rolling or deforming, and often
feature lightweight aluminium anodized buckles, ribbed
weave nylon webbing, a reinforced signature 5.11 belt-tip,
and subtle logo touches throughout; if you like something a
bit more “formal”, 5.11 can help you there too!
Carrying kit? No problem as 5.11 offer a multitude of
solutions. When I put this set of gear together I chose the
Tac Tec Chest Rig as a) it’s tried, tested and has been in the
5:11 range for a while now, and b) because it’s a lightweight,
breathable and versatile bit of kit! One size fits all and it has
eminently customisable configurations. As standard you can
carry up to six internal M4 mags with a either a nylon cover
or bungee retention; the bungees are included. Two outside
compartments can be converted to carry 500ml water bottles,
and there is an internal web platform for holster, pouch or
knife attachment along with a map pocket. The front of the
rig has extensive MOLLE so I decided to mount two further
two cell magazine pouches, and spare pistol magazine pouch,
and a medical pouch to cover all eventualities.
I always like to carry a small pack in addition to a rig, for
essentials like a larger FAK, extra ammunition, and even some
basic “snivel gear”. I’ve had a number of 5.11 packs over the
years, but the RUSH 24 is one that has most definitely earned
its place in my personal gear locker! Although it’s by far not a
new model, sometimes things REALLY don’t need changing,
and the RUSH is an absolutely prime example of this; it’s 5.11s
most popular tactical backpack, and is a high-performance
tactical pack suitable for duty, hunting and recreation, or graband-go.
Compatible with the 5.11 Tier System and Scabbard,
the pack features great, well-organised storage capability, a
wrap-around MOLLE and SlickStick-compatible web platform,
adjustable shoulder and sternum straps, a 60-oz. hydration
pocket, and durable, water-resistant construction. It’s a pack
built to last, and to be ready for anything!
With all this pulled together I simply needed to add some
boots, lightweight gloves, cap and shooting glasses and I
was good to go for training sessions on the range! I have to
admit that my inspiration for this set of gear came specifically
from a single picture that I saw in the 5.11 catalogue some
years back, and yes, I totally bought into it (so good job 5.11
marketing department!) and then I let my mind wander to
create something a little different in that grey palette that
would work either on or off the range for me. All the gear
is beautifully put together from first rate materials and even
though this is by no means the cheapest set of kit I’ve ever put
together everything has already lasted for some considerable
time and works in virtually any urban environment.
If you find something that inspires you then go for it, no
matter what it may be, but as always I’ll say do your research,
buy right and buy once! To learn more about the very latest
gear from 5.11 simply pay a visit to www.511tactical.com, or
seek out the dealer for your area!
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EDITORS COMMENT
EDITORS COMMENT
A WHOLE NEW YEAR!
EDITORS COMMENT
Well, what can I tell ya, loyal readers?
Another year seems to have rushed on by, and PMCI is about to
enter yet another one! When I took over the helm of this little
tome back in late 2014 I had no idea that heading towards the
end of 2019 we’d not only still be here, but we’d be a fixture in
the community!
During this time I’ve been lucky enough to have two fabulous
partners in the form of my friends Nige, the man behind Calibre
Publishing, and Trampas, the “stump to my tree” (a joke between
us since we first shot together!) who has become a fabulous
tactical/shooting journalist in his own right, and thoroughly earned
his place as my trusted deputy editor in the USA.
I’ve also been blessed with a magazine designer who having
“done his bit” at the highest level too just 100% “gets it” when
it comes to putting our somewhat random musings onto page;
Baz makes us look good even when we’re not! Into the fold some
folk have come and gone, but it’s down to all of our highly valued
and professional contributors that we now have the readership
that we do, and I would thank every single person that has ever
put quill to parchment in support of the magazine!
So where do we go from here I hear you ask, and the answer
is simple! We keep right on being down to earth and honest, both
in our dealings with the industry and with what we bring to you,
our readers, every time we launch a new issue!
It’s an exciting time at the end of each year as we eagerly look
forward to SHOT Show in the USA, and to IWA in Germany; both
these colossal shows give the entire PMCI team a chance to get
together face to face with the manufacturers, friends both old and
new, and to plan forward our content for the coming year.
Now I don’t always get to attend both shows, but for 2020 I’ll
be front and centre with Trampas and the team to meet everyone
in person, to thank them for their faith in PMCI and to find out
what they would like to see more of from us.
I will not tell you that the last few years haven’t been without
their challenges, but here we are; 2014 to 2019, and getting
stronger every year!
Not bad for a bunch of beardy old shooters and looters!
I’ll conclude this time by wishing you one and all the very best for
the festive season ahead, and if you’re in a country that doesn’t
celebrate this as we do, well then just raise a toast to those who
do, and enjoy things in your own way.
Keep sharp, keep safe, and I hope to see some of you in Vegas!

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GEAR ON TEST
CLAW GEAR RAIDER PANT AND
OPERATOR SHIRT REVIEW
Any brand grows based upon the standard of what
they produce, the quality of their service, and the
testimonials of the users more and more of us are
turning to Clawgear for clothing and accessories. Bill
now looks at a couple of their latest models in depth.
I’ve been working directly with the guys at Clawgear for a
few years now and I’ve been really overjoyed to see them
gaining slow but certain growth in the tactical clothing
market, and given my background in technical clothing
and fabrics they have not disappointed me with the new
garments, and indeed gear, that they have produced. After
a great deal of interaction with them I’ve come to trust the
merits of their technical clothing systems and they have
always had total confidence in the products they send me
to test and evaluate; this process continues as a “two-way
street” to this day.
The very latest garments to come my way show
that whilst Clawgear continue to innovate, they don’t
necessarily throw out what are great existing designs, but
instead improve on them!
For a while during the summer months I’ve been using
their excellent Instructor Shirt on the range when testing
(and when shooting abroad with friends) and it’s really
become a bit of a “go to” garment for me. The Instructor
Shirt MKII has been developed specifically for use at
shooting ranges and training facilities, and Clawgear have
designed this unique shirt to fulfill the requirements of
comfort and utilitarian configuration whilst maintaining a
pared-back, cool look. The Instructor Shirt is exceptionally
versatile as it i features velcro mounting points and zip
pockets on both sleeves, and a hidden side pocket for
a mobile phone including cable outlet has also been
included. It’s a simple T-shirt design, but the cut is generous
to aid with dynamic movement whilst shooting, and the
60% cotton, 40% Polyester fabric mix is both durable and
comfortable next to the skin.
However, as I tend to shoot for real in “hot places” the
short-sleeved option is not always the best, and I longed
for a model that would give me more coverage and
perhaps a little more protection for the lower arm. Enter
the Instructor Shirt MKII LS! Inspired by the popularity of
the original, the long sleeve version has been developed as
for use primarily on the shooting range and for instructors.
Due to its versatility, it is also suitable for a variety of other
tasks, including, as Clawgear put it “professional level light
operations”. The fabric of the torso maintains the great feel
of the original for use and comfort under plate carriers.
The technical design of the sleeves ensures extremely
high freedom of movement, and they are made of a very
durable, stretchy and water-repellent 87% polyamide,
13% polyurethane fabric mix; combining this shirt with
a light, water repellant vest gives you superb protection
whilst maintaining high levels of breathability. The two
upper arm pockets provide sufficient storage space for
range cards and small items, while the loop surfaces offer
space for ID badges if required. The shirt also features an
extended torso to avoid slipping out of your trousers, and
overall the main 60% cotton, 40% Polyester torso fabric
is quick drying, breathable and comfortable.
Both the Instructor Shirts are available in a range of plain
colours, so they will fit pretty much anywhere you choose
to use them too. Clawgear will never be the cheapest
option on the block, but as they say, you get what you
pay for and in this case that’s an awful lot of comfort,
performance and durability!
For more information on the superb range of gear from
Clawgear please do visit www.clawgear.com
16

MAG STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Ask any serious shooter or collector, “Where do you
store your firearms” and the immediate answers you
will get will routinely involve being neatly arranged
in some sort of elaborate and well-made gun safe
of some size or shape. What’s interesting is if you
ask these same groups, “Where do you store your
magazines”, the answers will greatly differ from desk
drawers to cardboard boxes, usually amidst disarray
and total lack of organization. Trampas believes he has
the solution we’ve all been looking for!
Thanks to a company by the name of Mag Storage
Solutions, order is now being conveniently being offered
to not only help cleanly organize collected magazines but
help offer fast access to them as well!
In 2018, I first met representatives of the Mag Storage
Solutions company during SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas. At
the time, this company only offered a handful of products
designed to install inside gun safes to organize and hold
AR15, AK-47 and assorted pistol magazines. I thought
the concept was extremely innovative and asked to have
a few of these items sent for review. Between moving
homes, growing our training company and working on
new projects, a year manage to lapse between our show
floor conversation and follow up on our product request.
By the time I reached back out to Mag Storage Solutions,
the company had grown substantially and offered a fair
few more products such as magazine go bags, magnetic
gun safe mounting hardware and large 6 magazine holder
brackets. They were very happy to hear back from us and
decided to send out two sets of their signature AR-15
brackets, two sets of the AR-10 / AK-47 brackets and two
sets of their assorted magazine brackets as well for our
review. Given the current “at capacity” status of our Liberty
Gun Safes, I felt it would be too crowded to fairly include
these large, easy to use brackets into such tight quarters.
After thinking on a solution to waiting to put these
neat devices into use, I came up with the idea to install
peg board to the blank wall of my office closet in which
I keep several ammo cans, ASP training guns, work shirts
and tactical gear. What would result would be nothing
short of fully functional and yes, absolutely gorgeous to
any gun guy who would see it!
By implementing these racks, it allowed me to efficiently
use previously unusable wall space to store a wide variety
of pistol and rifle magazines, fully loaded and ready to be
grabbed at a moment’s notice on the way out the door to
the range. This has eliminated valuable time once wasted
looking for specific magazines that corresponded to certain
firearm platforms. Each polymer rack is easy to use and
securely holds the magazines upright and in place to be
quickly removed and returned when done.
The beauty of the Mag Storage Solutions products is the
simplicity in which they operate. These products represent
a “Now why didn’t I think of that” feeling in how simply
they make needed firearm accessory organization. Best of
all, these products are relatively inexpensive to own with
the average rack retailing between US$39.99 - US$45.99
each. With having regularly used the system I have set up
in my office for over a year now, I am constantly impressed
with how durable they have been and will admit a bit of
constant elation each time I open the closet door to see
the peg board wall complete with HK MP5, Uzi carbine,
Mac 11 subgun and call their corresponding magazines
neatly organized beside them. If you are like me and
the millions of other gun owners who love concepts like
order and discipline, I highly recommend these products
by Mag Storage Solutions. Check them out today at www.
magstoragesolutions.com and tell them PMCI Magazine
sent you!
GEAR ON TEST
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GEAR ON TEST
DEAD POINT WEAPON LIGHT
As a firearms instructor and daily concealed weapon
carrier, Trampas is always on the lookout for new
and innovative products to make life safer and better
prepared for unknown circumstances and this time he
illuminates Dead Point Lights!
Three items I always want on a reliable defensive firearm are
a good trigger, solidly built iron sights (preferably night sights)
and some sort of quality white light. While the trigger and
sights are an easy fix, white lights usually take a bit more effort
to carry. The tactical light market primarily revolves around the
accessory rail of a handgun. Each manufacturer has their own
proprietary shape and size of light which makes model specific
holsters a necessity. When carrying concealed, adding a light only
adds to the overall bulk of an item never meant to be human
body friendly to begin with. Recently, I discovered Dead Point
weapon lights which looked to me the missing link I had been
searching for.
What caught my eye with Dead Point lights was how they
mounted to the firearm. Instead of the traditional accessory
rail, the Dead Point light replaced the factory recoil guide rod
assembly of the pistol. According to the website, the light uses
a 303 stainless steel guide rod paired with a recoil spring from
a company world famous for their aftertmarket products, Wolff
Gunsprings. At the time I ordered a light for my Glock Gen 4
Model 19 9mm pistol, the lights were only available for Gen 3
and 4 Glocks in 17 and 19 frames as well as the newer Glock
model 42.
Approximately 10 days after ordering, my light arrived in the
mail. The package included the steel guide rod with the Wolff
spring already mounted on it, a unique looking 9-volt battery
pack and an extended take down lever. Switching out the factory
parts for the Dead Point products only took about 2 minutes with
no issues at all. (Make sure the take down lever is facing the
correct way during installation.)
Operating the light simply requires pressing inward in either
direction on the ambidextrous take down lever to active the
light. The heart of the unit is a Cree LED bulb that produces about
90 lumens. Considering what its diminutive physical size would
lead you to believe, the Dead Point light actually produces an
impressive high volume of concentrated bright light. The pistol
still retains its same balance, overall feel and ability to index
naturally without any adjustment to grip or stance. The lever
protrudes slightly further outward than a factory take down lever
but does not drag or hang up on any holster or clothing I tested
the gun with. With several holsters, including my custom inside
the waistband holster built by good friend, Doc Burger, if the light
is accidently left on when holster, the lever gets pushed back
to OFF position as it inserts it is re-holstered. I could see where
this would come in handy when in a rush or hyper-focused on
the task at hand.
Working with an unloaded Glock, I worked through my house
room to room at night in low light and no light situations using
the Dead Point light. Using both weak hand and strong hand
supported grips, I was able to activate the light using the index
finger of my support hand. When switching to a one hand only
grip, my trigger finger could activate the light with minimal effort
despite having relatively short fingers. In a complete dark room,
the light illuminated a 10’ x 12’ space with no problems.
This light would work well in conjunction with a primary
handheld light for searching. As with any weapon mounted light,
regardless if it is a handgun or long gun, I regularly carry an
additional light on my belt or in my pocket for searching in dark
environments. My time working as a SWAT operator taught me
the importance of not searching areas using weapon mounted
lights. Not all persons encountered in low light will end up being
threats, so sweeping them with the muzzle of a firearm as you
use the light mounted on it to search is a “NO GO”.
On the range, I was in for a pleasant surprise in how soft my
Glock seemed to feel shooting. The Wolff recoil guide rod spring
made the felt recoil seem noticeably lighter from shot to shot.
When I manually cycled the slide, I could not notice the slide
or spring feeling any stiffer, but it certainly seemed so during live
fire. Over the test period, well over 500 rounds were put through
the Glock 19 with the same soft recoil being felt throughout.
Overall, I enjoyed working with the Dead Point light. I found
the product was very user friendly and built well. If I had to pick
a downside to the weapon light, it would be with the battery.
While the unique little 9-volt battery pack kept the light
running brightly during the entire four month test period, it isn’t
a very common battery. Fortunately, at only US$5 direct from the
company, they are affordable enough to keep several on hand.
I normally tend to prefer products that operate with batteries
I can readily find at my local gas station or worst-case scenario,
Walmart. Due to size the battery is needed to fit into, I don’t
foresee this issue changing any time soon. (Side note: battery
life expectation according to the company is around 45 mins of
continuous run time.)
Retailing for US$149.99, I feel this light is priced on par with
the larger, bulkier lights. Are their lights on the market that are
a bit larger, brighter and have a longer battery life, sure. For me,
the trade off on sheer volume of light and battery life versus
concealability was well worth it to be able to comfortably have
a light on my gun 24/7 and still know I have a quality-built
product.
To learn more about more about the Dead Point, visit their
website at www.DeadPointLights.com to discover a product that
best fits your specific needs.
18
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31
LIFESTYLE
COMMS & TIME
The LEVEL 7 is lightweight winter jacket
which provides insulation and protection
against frost, wind and light showers.
Climashield® Apex provides thermal
insulation and ultimate warmth. Two
chest pockets are lined with fleece to
provide protection against frostbite.
The hood can be easily adjusted without
removing hands from the chest pockets via
two drawstrings located there.
Climashield® Apex insulation
(grammage: 100g body; 67g hood).

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KIT: SNUGPAK
SNUG(PAK) AS A BUG
It’s that time again when we all need to contend with colder weather, so “in house technical clothing
guru” Bill turns his attention to some great kit which will help you to keep “snuggly in your snivel gear”
when the mercury plummets! - By Bill Thomas
A
s I sit writing this I can tell that winter is
upon us just by the temperature in the
office, and the fact that I’ve finally ditched
my usual shorts for a pair of trousers, and
my t-shirt for my go-to Helikon-Tex hoody
fleece and jeans. Just this morning we had
our first frost of the year, and from what
the “meteo” is telling me that’s just the
start of a potentially cold and snowy winter ahead; on
my recent trip up to see the guys at the range, gritting
teams were out doing trial runs on the motorway so for
me it’s definitely time to get planning for those frozen
days of training!
Although I’m still in two minds as to whether or not to
invest in “snow camo” (I have this debate with myself
year on year!) it is time to break out the insulated jacket
for downtime on the ne, and I truly believe that this is a
crucial piece of gear to own for two main reasons.
Firstly, after a hard mornings training you’re going to
have built up a head of steam but when you’re out on a
basic range with no heated reload zone (in many cases
you’ll be operating from the back of the car!) it’s very,
very easy to chill down quickly when you stop for lunch.
This leads all too quickly discomfort and on a cold,
snowy winters day I’ve seen many guys leave at
lunchtime as they’ve become too chilled to continue.
Secondly, in the UK it’s often not the cold, pretty white
stuff falling from the sky that we need to contend with
but sleet and icy rain, so you’ll totally get why I find an
insulated jacket to be and indispensable bit of kit!
I know that I keep on about a correct and effective
layering system in your gear, but in the winter months
you really need to push up the insulation levels of your
mid-layer so it’s seriously worth considering some form of
lightweight lofted garment. Once upon a time everyone
would have been saying “get a down jacket”, and in
20

certain conditions I’d thoroughly agree with that. These
days though I pretty much always go for a synthetic fill
rather than down; synthetics retain a high percentage
of their insulative properties even when wet whereas
when down gets wet it will stay wet and will actually try
to use your own core body heat to dry itself resulting in
you being even colder! Another benefit of a synthetic fill
is that you can also compress it, and leave it compressed
for extended periods of time without causing any damage
to its structure. Most of the jackets will come with a
compression or stuff sac which can be used to minimise
its size making it easier to store and carry with you.
Hypothermia can, ultimately, be a killer, and even in its
mildest form can lead to you having not just a bad day, but
a bad time full stop! If you really don’t want to be “that
guy” who causes a problem for everyone due to lack of
forethought and preparation, then please read on. I know, I
really do, that you could easily look at this and say that an
insulated jacket is just another piece of kit to buy, another
expensive item of clothing that won’t get used that much,
but in fact once you own such a garment I think you’ll be
shocked actually how much you do use it!
WHAT LOOK FOR
All the “big names” out there will offer one if not more
insulated jackets in their clothing range and depending
on your left-over-after-the-latest-ammo-buy-money then
shopping around will get you something in your price
range. Although camouflage insulated jackets are available
think about where you’ll be wearing it. If you buy a simple
block colour rather than a camo, then you’re also going
to end up with something you can wear every day which
makes it even better value for money.
Most good outdoor pursuits stores will now have in stock
a wide selection of both down and synthetic insulated
jackets by now, and some of them are offering some great
gear from the top mountaineering companies by now, and
I’ve noticed that there are some seriously good bargains
to be had from the likes of Black Diamond, RAB, Mountain
Equipment, Patagonia, and The North Face, and all of them
this year seem to be available in black or some really cool
grey tones; do be wary of buying “names” though as there
sadly is still a degree of “paying for that” depending on
where you actually make your purchase.
Good models to look for are those that are referred to
as “belay jackets” as those are purpose designed to stuff
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down into your pack for use when you need them most, ie,
when you stop being active and become more static, and
their designs are more often than not more technically cut to
fit lower over the small of the back and abdomen, whereas
many of the more “fashion cut” jackets are waistline cut. I
still have a very old belay pullover filled with Primaloft from
my time working with Lowe Alpine many years ago, and it’s
a classic!
Of course there are now many “tactical” brands that will
sell you and insulated jacket, and those are usually jazzed
up with a lot of arm-velcro and different features from the
“civvy versions”, but I’ll still go back to my old faves Snugpak
when it comes to insulated gear for military and tactical use;
they’ve built on the success of their best known insulated
jacket, the Softie (a UK Forces “favourite”!, to bring some
great models to their clothing collection, and the latest
generation of insulated jackets are British made in the
company’s factory in West Yorkshire, and are manufactured
using its exclusive Softie Premier synthetic insulation.
SJ FOR THE WIN!
The Snugpak SJ Range is their latest development in
tactical all-weather jackets that are designed to give you
the perfect outer shell whatever conditions you’re facing
throughout the year. All four jackets in the range benefit
from our high tech Paratex Micro outer and Paratex Light
inner, keeping any moisture away from your skin, so you
stay warm, comfortable and dry, and their Softie Premier
filling has excellent insulating properties, trapping heat and
maximising comfort.
The warmest jacket in the collection is the SJ12
(UK£184.95); the newest Snugpak design is tailored to fit
the contours of your body, with a water-resistant main zip,
and a high neck design that keeps out the draughts. The
Softie Jacket 12 is designed for the winter months with a
permanent, adjustable, insulated hood for extra warmth
around the head, neck and face. You’ll be comfortable right
down to -15°C. It comes in a Blue, Red, Olive, Military Black,
Multicam camouflage colours, which also feature Velcro
patches on the arm for military use. The SJ12 also has the
extended body and longer back I mentioned earlier.
The SJ9 (UK£149.95), which uses Softie 9 Insulation
features a full time insulated hood, which can be rolled
down and secured in place when not in use, and Snugpak’s
Softie® Premier insulation for ultimate warmth, making it
ideal for extreme winter conditions or when stationary for
long periods of time. Hem draw cords mean you can snug
22

it in to retain warmth, elasticated cuffs form a great seal
when wearing gloves, and there are two deep hand warmer
pockets as well. Down the sides of the jacket is a unique
panel of baffles which holds the insulation exactly where it’s
needed; Snugpak have obviously looked to their sleeping
bag range and taken inspiration from there, and it works
very well indeed.
The SJ9 is available in olive, military black, MultiCam
and A-TACS camo, and features Velcro on the arms for unit
or morale patches. I’ve been really pleased to have this
model on test since its inception and it’s proved 100% to
be a “keeper”. Over the winter months of the last couple
of years I’ve been able to try it in various conditions and,
especially when the temperature plummeted it really
performed! If you’re looking for a really great winter jacket
that is absolutely perfect for wear on the range then I’d urge
you to take a really close look at the SJ9 as it comes with
my thorough recommendation.
One of the things with ranges and training areas is that
you do spend a fair amount of time in a cold, static position;
you might be attending the safety briefing first thing in
the morning or breaking for lunch, but it’s a rarity to find a
heated outdoor range isn’t it? For years I’ve always had an
original Snugpak “Softie” jacket in the back of the car for just
such times, for when you want a bit of instant warmth. Now
Snugpak have really upped the ante though, taking things
to an entirely new level! Developed by Snugpak with input
from professional navigators, mountain leaders, climbing
instructors, meteorological staff, and military personnel,
the functional Military Mountain Leader Smock has been
created to support the user in a diverse range of operational
environments, especially when exposed to extreme cold
weather.
As a part of Snugpak’s “VENTURE” range the MML6 Softie
Smock is the flagship garment. It’s a tri-layer garment and
uses both Paratex Micro as a face fabric, and an internal
Softie Premier fill, encapsulated with a Paratex Light lining.
Designed to provide excellent thermal protection against
the cold the MML6 is rated -5C to -10C; it also provides a
high degree of wind protection. The MML6 Softie Smock is
lighter than normal expedition style jackets, and uses water
resistant YKK zips, making it ideal when size and weight
need to be kept to an absolute minimum. It is ideally worn
with a variety of base layers, such as the Snugpak 2nd
Skinz Coolmax base layer, to move moisture away from the
skin, keeping you dry and regulating core temperature in
extremes of cold.
The quick drying, Paratex Micro 100% nylon material has
a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish. Water repellency
can be maintained with a cool tumble dry after washing
and periodic re-treatment with suitable after care products.
The MML6 Softie Smock will keep you dry in a short, light
shower, giving you time to find a safe place to stop and
put on more effective waterproof layers. The MML6 Softie
Smock can also be worn under waterproof membrane hard
shells in severe weather, still allowing easy access to your
essential equipment.
Whilst not exactly cheap at UK£189.95 the MML6 Softie
Smock should be viewed as a long term investment,
especially if you act as an trainer or RO as well as being a
shooter; whilst trainees can easily head back inside to warm
up a trainer/RO needs to be out on range at all times that
shooting is in progress. The MML6 easily lets you do this
so in my mind is an invaluable addition to your kit locker.
Whatever your budget may be though, there’s a great
insulated jacket out there with your name on it! It may not
be a garment that is going to see all round use,
but you’ll thank me next time those around you
are shivering and you’re all snuggled up in your
gucci-smucci new jacket and complaining how
warm you are!
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TAC GEAR - WISPORT
WISPORT
The tactical equipment market seems to be more and more flooded with choice than ever before,
and sometimes it’s easy to overlook a brand because their gear somehow doesn’t fit into the “Gucci
Category”. Bill takes a pause and a step back to his roots in the outdoor performance market to
focus on WISPORT, a Polish brand that really should be better known and appreciated!
I
t has to be said that an awful lot of gear that we use is
driven by big faceless brands and what is seen on the
backs of “operators” both in real life and in the movies/
on the TV. Of course there’s also the influence of the
gaming industry that want their virtual characters to
look “tacticool”, so much so that we’re now seeing tieins
between game producers and manufacturers of gear
not just as a nod, but as direct business relationships.
Now I’m not saying that this is a bad thing as increased
sales for company X driven by the virtual marketplace and
showcase generated online by company Y leads to more
money in the pot for future development of new gear, and
this is actually a pretty healthy place to be for any producer of
tactical kit. All companies love a government contract which
may lead to the production of thousands of pieces of one
particular type of gear and assure sales for years to come, but
as always contracts of this type are undoubtedly pared back to
the bone when it comes to what the company actually earns,
and what they have to spend developing new ideas.
What sometimes amazes me though is that there are some
absolutely corking manufacturers out there that not only provide
kit for the top “operators” of their own countries, but innovate
like mad using the best possible technologies and components,
and somehow are completely passed by because their gear
hasn’t been shown off in “Call of Modern Battlefield Duty 27” or
appeared in the latest “Dark o’clock” blockbuster movie!
I’ve mentioned before in relation to clothing that there is
some absolutely cutting-edge stuff coming out of Eastern Europe
at the moment, and let’s not forget the operational experience
of Special Forces units like Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno-
Manewrowego (GROM) from Poland, who have been right in
the thick of things with 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force), SEAL Team
Six (DEVGRU) and the SAS, that are feeding their hard-won
knowledge back into companies producing absolutely first rate
gear. One of the manufacturers, who are based in Wrocław,
Poland as it happens, that we seem to pass by is WISPORT, and
I can’t for the life of me work out why!
WISPORT have actually been making packs (as well as
other items for the outdoor and hunting markets) since 1984
and certainly know their business! In addition to a thoroughly
extensive collection of backpacks, the company also offers
fleece, ski pants, thermoactive underwear, organic cotton
T-shirts, hiking boots, trekking and ski socks, and a wide range of
accessories (first aid kits, transport bags, rain capes, crampons,
24

etc) to over 100 stores in Poland and throughout Europe. Whilst
they may not be so well-known in the UK and USA I think I can
safely say that they have a “track record” for making good gear,
one that the PMCI teams can personally attest to!
TRIED AND TESTED
Each year I try to get out into the wilds of the European Alps to
drag a bunch of gear through its paces, and although this has been
curtailed a little by “medical considerations” in the immediate past
couple of years, it’s something that I love, and not even a brush
with cancer will keep me from my beloved high and wild places!
Last year I group-tested a bunch of packs on the mountain trails
and amongst them was the “Sparrow” from WISPORT.
The smallest of Sparrow backpacks family the 16 is the latest
generation of compact backpacks made of extremely durable
500D Cordura Nylon and developed in collaboration with Polish
Military forces. The main advantages of the Sparrow 16 backpack
are removable, ergonomically shaped and lightly padded shoulder
straps, a spacious hydration-compatible main compartment and
multiple MOLLE attachment points.
The main compartment of Sparrow 16 comes with an internal
hydration sleeve on the backside inner, a zippered pocket and
multiple elastic loops for easy organisation. Additionally, above
the sleeve pocket are a hook for the attachment of hydration
system and a passage for the hydration hose or an antenna. The
pack features a front compartment with zip closure, and multiple
quick release buckles allow the backpack to be quickly dropped
when required. The side compression straps allow the pack to be
adapted to the size of carried kit and prevent it from shifting inside
which may cause unnecessary noise, discomfort and disturbance
to balance. On the front of the pack and side panels are multiple
MOLLE strap attachments points, which allows for mounting
various MOLLE accessories.
Durable and lightweight, the Sparrow 16 pack is perfect for
carrying all you need to a full days training or operations, and
serves well as a patrol pack when you need to dump your big
bergan!
Moving up a notch to what I refer to as “Three Day” packs
WISPORT have a whole heap of models in this important 30-50L
capacity area, and my personal
favourite of the bunch is the
ZipperFox 40L. One of the more
recent additions to WISPORTs line
of military packs, the ZipperFox
40L was created as a modified,
slightly larger and more versatile,
version of their Silverfox 30L
model. Designed for medium
duration trips or patrols, this new
generation of single compartment
tactical packs benefits from
extremely lightweight and durable construction, high degrees of
functionality and innovative technology.
The main feature of this unique pack is an inverted “U” shaped
clamshell zip opening, which allows for quick and easy access
to the main compartment from the top and both sides at the
same time. Additionally the ZipperFox comes with re-designed
Semi Adjustable System (SAS) Plus carrying system which now
includes profiled straps, a removable buckled waist belt, rigid
back construction and highly breathable padding. Thanks to the
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TAC GEAR - WISPORT
ergonomically profiled straps sewn in permanently, the pack
provides excellent stability when carrying uneven or dynamic
loads, which makes it an ideal choice for more challenging
environments and activities.
The ZipperFox is fully hydration system compatible, with an
easily accessible zippered hydration compartment, and is fully
MOLLE compatible thanks to numerous webbing straps placed
around the pack. This highly practical pack also comes with
waterproof rain cover hidden inside the bottom compartment,
side ski attachment straps (probably with other uses in the UK!)
and multiple inner sleeves / zipped pockets for easy organization.
It represents a perfect storage/carry solution for anyone that
needs to manage a larger load when the going gets tough!
GEAR HAULERS
Depending on whether you are heading to your local range for
an extended training session, or hauling your kit into the middle
of nowhere for a multi-day exercise, WISPORT really do have you
covered in all respects!
From not-so-simple duffles like the 50L Stork up to full on
mountaineering packs, WISPORT offer the lot! Made of Cordura
Nylon material for superior durability, the Stork Bag features a
spacious main compartment equipped with a two-way zipper
opening, loop patch for hook-backed IDs, tags or morale patches,
and multiple pockets. The bag offers plenty of storage space and
comes with removable and adjustable shoulder strap, along with
numerous PALS webbing straps for additional MOLLE attachments
(such as pouches or lanyards). The Stork Bag is big enough to fit
in everything you need without having to dig through a massive
main compartment, performs exceptionally well in virtually all
conditions, and represents a perfect storage solution for all your
gear on the range!
If you need to be carrying your home on your back though,
there is a lot of choice in the WISPORT Racoon Series of packs,
but my personal choice here is the ShotPack. Designed with the
serious shooter in mind (and with a price-tag to match!), this
fully customisable and adaptable “L-pack” allows for secure and
comfortable transport of a long rifle along with personal belongings
and other necessary equipment for multi-day deployment in one
solid package.
Developed again in
collaboration with Polish
Military forces, the
ShotPack features a fully
adjustable and highly
comfortable FAS Plus
Military back system, two
large detachable side
pouches, top, bottom
and front access to the
main compartment, and a
fully removable stiffened
back section with internal
frame and MOLLE for
multiple storage options.
Additionally, this highly adaptable tactical pack comes with a
dedicated three section standalone rifle case with heavy internal
padding, MOLLE webbing and multiple carry options. There’s also a
hydration sleeve, concealed waterproof rain cover, helmet mesh
mount, and numerous compression straps, and these are only a
few of the many interesting design solutions featured in this this
superb tactical pack. The military grade ShotPack offers a huge
amount of carrying space and is perfect for military personnel as
well as tactical shooters.
I’ve really only touched the tip of the iceberg here when
it comes to what WISPORT offer as their range is absolutely
enormous, and if you can’t find what you need amongst their
range, then it probably doesn’t exist in the wild! From simple,
well-thought-out packing solutions to full spectrum load-carrying
hardware, they have the lot, and you can check everything out
by simply visiting www.wisport.com.pl, and my sincere thanks
go to www.military1st.co.uk for providing the test sample of the
Sparrow.
26

‘Our Mission’
In 2018 it was identified that up to 20% of military personnel were
suffering from mental health disorders such as PTSD
CROPS Coffee was established as a way of supporting our troops
past and present by donating all our profits to Veterans mental
health charity Combat Stress
Sometimes it’s all about the simple things in life and nothing makes
you smile like a good cup of coffee to lift your sprits
As a veteran own company, we are dedicated in supporting our
troops, and would like to thank you for your support
To purchase and support, visit
www.cropscoffee.com

TECH: SIONYX
28
SIONYX AURORA SPORT
PMCI are pleased again this time to be joined by occasional guest contributor Rob S. Rob is well
respected in the PMC world, but these days tends to rollout for chosen “CP Details”, spending the
rest of his days testing gear he wishes he’d had “in the day”! - Rob. S.
He was talking too loudly when I tapped him on
the shoulder and whispered; “shhh you stupid
American!” We were on watch and as per normal
SOP we were to record what we saw and report
back. Stealth was the name of the game. Two
guys went by and I hit record; wait, they had red
arm insignia on not blue badges? Ah confirmed
those are the special units we heard about but
no way we could tell with monochrome NVG
sets we normally used.
It was O dark ⅛ moonlight, not enough to see your hand in
front but with any decent NVG it looked almost daylight outside
of the canopy. I slid away having what we needed, and we
picked our way through the dense cover not afraid of using our
illuminators now as they were 1065nm and traditional NVGs
don’t see in that range, but this Sionyx colour NVG camera
did. Earlier I was arguing with my EOD mate about these low
cost cameras; yeah I’m a fool, and now I saw their value was
far above what I thought. He had laughed and said; “colour is
information and information is good”. Yeah mate, it is.”
I recently received a Sionyx Aurora Sport IP67 rated action
night vision camera from a client and was asked if we needed
these for our security detail. My first reaction was, we all have
pvs14s and Flir why would we need that? Well colour is indeed
information and more information is good. Jumping ahead, this
is now in my go bag and most likely should be in yours as well.
Before we get off to the camera lets cover a few details.
Seeing in the dark is important, so much that man has used
fire, flashlights and more for ages. Then the military developed
light intensifiers, owning the night, and these evolved into
our current NVG tech, but it sees in monochrome. So why is
“Seeing Colour at Night” so Important? Seeing colour enhances
situational awareness resulting in faster and more accurate
decision making, it allows for a better understanding of the
terrain and the surrounding area, and can reduce fatigue and
disorientation that has been associated with conventional,
monochrome NVG.
Seeing in colour is just what the human body is used to
and so a typical individual can mentally process what they’re
seeing faster with these systems. Seeing in colour aids
reconnaissance and target identification. Colour night vision can
provide important missing data (the colour of a target vehicle or
clothing, etc.) allowing positive identification faster, and positive
identification further. Night colour vision aids in night-time
search and rescue and recovery operations more efficiently and
with greater safety. Colour can be crucial for rapid and accurate

wound assessment and treatment, as with monochromatic night
vision, blood can look the same as water. This system enables the
user to differentiate arterial from venous blood. Colour also can
allow bomb techs to see red, green, blue, and different colour wires,
components, and more. And then there are maritime uses (IP67
rated remember) where colour may be the key to knowing rather
than guessing. Wreck that $50k skiff and see how much your boss
wants to pay you!
SIONYX
So what makes this system what it is? Cost? MSRP of US$399 as of
Nov 2019. A typical gen 2+ sees less and can cost over US$1,000+,
then at Gen 3 we get into 3 to 5 thousand US dollars and it is still
monochrome. While this individual unit cannot see as well in low
light as a gen 3 (very close though) it beats a gen 2 and with
a 1065IR illuminator that most gen 3 cannot see, it sees clearly.
We tested this out and all of our 850, 940 lasers and illuminators
worked well but the icing on the cake was the custom 1065
illuminator we tried. It was able to see clearly while the pvs14 we
had could barely make out it was used. A Tactical advantage for CQB
operations and stealth as we all know from when Kevin turned on
his 940 illuminator; RIP Kevin! Then there is ITAR; how many times
have you left only to return and have your fancy toys taken due to
ITAR? No? OK, well some of us have. Haha. This is not on ITAR and is
sold worldwide to travel, so no issues.
Sionyx LLC is a sensor company with
over 40 patents. Their sensor can see
further into the IR spectrum than a PVS
or such.
Sionyx owns the technology and
controls the cost, and this keeps things
affordable and we can expect many
more great products soon from the
company. I wish I could say more but
company OPSEC says “soon”. Sionyx
was awarded $20M as part of the
army’s IVAS program for next general
digital NV though...
Can I wear these NOD style you may
well ask? Many want to know if it can
be worn head-mounted for NVG use.
The answer is yes, and they are even lighter than most NVG sets.
Although it does have a small amount of lag on the lowest settings
(I run mine at 30fps, night and -2.0 diopter and they are great, and
we are talking only 15ms versus the eye at 10ms) and the field
of view is a tad smaller but after running this in a dual nod setup
in our shoot house, I have come to love this set. It is cheaper for
the pair of Sports and mount (see below) than just a single gen
2 which it blows away. If there is any light I can actually identify
clothing colour and with the 1065nm illuminator I can slide in 100%
O dark not be noticed until too late. Lionsgear Solutions offers an
amazing mount and other accessories for your Sionyx NOD set up
via Wilcox and other mounts, along with lens covers protectors, eye
cups and more. Their dual NOD Machos mount is state of the art
military grade including the option to adjust for each eye alignment
individually and stainless steel hinges that lock at any given degree.
Sionyx also offers the smarter sibling the Black “Aurora” model
at US$800 that contains a Built-In Wi-Fi, GPS, Compass and by the
time of this article it should have the software update that allows
and adds Augmented Reality. So when looking into the camera, it
will show you where your base, objective and team members are,
their tag, how far away they are from you and their direction when
they are also running the Aurora black camera.
Last but not least, LEO and legal use? Since the Aurora black
camera records more information, colour, has a timestamp, and GPS
as well, it’s admissible as evidence!
Sport Version Features
• Sensor - Ultra-Low Light CMOS 1” (Yes 1”!)
• Near Moonless Starlight capable
• Colour or monochrome display
• Lens - f/1.4 Night, f/2 Twilight, /5.6 Day 16mm lens that
cannot be damaged by daylight in night mode.
• Video - 720p Mov
• FPS - 7.5, 15.24, 30, 60
• Photo - .9mp
• Shutter speeds - 1.5″, 1″, 1/2″, 1/4″, 1/7.5″, 1/15″, 1/30″,
1/60″, 1/120″,
• 1/240″, 1/480″, 1/1000″, 1/2000″, 1/4000″, 1/8000″
• Wifi - USB 2.0
• MicroSD 4 - 32GB
• Micro OLED Display
• IP67
• USB Rechargeable battery (swappable)
• IOS and Android app
• Remote Live View, Record, Download, Share
• Under 8oz and fits in the hand
• ITAR friendly
For more information please simply pay a visit to www.sionyx.com
TECH: SIONYX
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER LEGION P938
SIG SAUER LEGION P938
Right after SHOT SHOW 2019 this past January, Clint received a call from PMCI Deputy Editor, Trampas
asking if he was interested in reviewing SIG’s newest addition to their growing Legion series. This would
be an updated version of their classic model P938. Never being one to turn down the opportunity to
shoot the boss’s ammo, Clint replied “Let’s get on this right away!”.
Beyond its appearance, I wasn’t really
expecting to like this gun. Why, you might
ask? Well, I have never been a big fan of
SIG’s pistols in general. See, I’m a left-handed
shooter and historically SIG has left us
southpaws feeling a little left out. Primarily
because most of their designs feature the
controls on the wrong side of the gun for us.
I know it’s rather petty. But it’s always been
a turn off for me. I decided that I would go into this with an
open mind and give this little pistol a shot. Little did I know
this would embark into a year long journey together.
Before we move deeper in the P938, lets take a step
back to the 1980’s. Disco had finally died its inevitable
death, Wall Street was booming and there didn’t seem to
be anything that could stop the money-making machine
that was the American economy. Americans were looking
for small concealable firearms to protect themselves and all
that money they were making. Colt Manufacturing decided
it was a good time to capitalize on their flagship pistol of the
20th Century, the historic 1911. This pistol had been the side
arm of the American fighting man for almost a century by
that time. Colt’s decision? Use what’s worked, adapting the
1911 design by shirking its scale down from the large .45
ACP to host the smaller .380 ACP cartridge. This small 1911
released as the Mustang and its many variants would
30

be in Colt’s catalog from 1983 until it’s production would cease in 1996.
In 2009, new life would be breathed in to the now deceased
Mustang. When SIG SAUER announced the release of the P238
chambered in .380 ACP. This “new” pistol was built from a license
of the Mustang from Colt. A few years later, capitalizing on the
success of the P238 and answering the clamoring crowd of
consumers demanding a 9mm version the P938 was born.
While similar in design and appearance to their hugely
successful P238 .380 ACP micro-pistol. The P938 it differs by
being slightly longer, wider and heavier to facilitate the longer
and more powerful 9mm cartridge. The P938’s sales were so
strong, SIG included it in a number of following specialized series
such as the Nitron, Nightmare, Extreme, Combat, and an FDE
version known as the Scorpion. Heck, they’ve even got a Rose
Gold version if you’re in to that kind of thing. Now, SIG follows
up all their success with inclusion in their most elite version to
date, the Legion program. This stands out particularly impressive
considering the overwhelming production of polymer pistols
chambered in 9mm seemingly flooding the market, yet a steel
SIG pistol still manages to garner that much demand.
If your unfamiliar SIG’s Legion line of products, here is a quick
overview. The Legion program is SIG’s series of proven designs
in their catalog that have been tweaked and upgraded based on
years of feedback from shooters. This program is just as much
about the lifestyle as it is the high-quality firearms within it.
When you purchase a Legion product, you are eligible for Legion
membership perks like their exclusive branded holsters, knives,
shirts, hats and other gear from some of the industry’s top
manufacturers all sporting the now iconic Legion chevron.
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER LEGION P938
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pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER LEGION P938
NEW LOOK, NEW PERFORMANCE?
Alright, let’s get back to the review. I first saw a sample of P938
Legion at the 2018 SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas. I was immediately
impressed with its new look. The Legion grey Cerakote finish
and striking G-10 grips with the inlaid signature chevron
emblem of the Legion line made for a striking and professional
looking package. I was interested in seeing firsthand if this new
edition to the P938 line had upgraded the gun’s performance as
well as its looks. Our team arranged to have a sample sent for
testing once production began. Finally, in January, the Legion
P938 arrived at our FFL holder, Legion Defense Industries for review.
When I took the delivery of the P938, I was immediately
reminded of the difference between an all metal constructed
firearm such as the SIG versus my current daily driver the
polymer framed Glock 43. While this little pistol was heavy it
knew that weight would help to ease the recoil of the 9mm
cartridge. My next thought was could it be? Had SIG really
thought about the 15% of the world’s population that was
wrong handed as my Grandmother use to say and had added
an ambidextrous safety. Yep there it was! I was holding a lefthanded
friendly SIG.
Because of my initial fears of not liking this pistol due to past
disappoints with SIG from a left hand shooter’s perspective, I
was hesitant to follow the industry writer trend of rushing to
publication with my first thoughts sans real experience living
with the gun as a daily carry option. Instead, I spoke with
Trampas about extending the loan period from SIG and devote
the next ten months to carrying the 938 extensively both
personally and professionally while offering the gun ample
opportunity to let it grow on me and find out just why they are
so popular. For anyone who knows me, rushing to opinion isn’t
my character to begin with, so why should my review?
After getting the green light from the editors and a miriad
of support from the folks at SIG Sauer, I continued with my “get
to know each other” session with the little 9mm, I was pleased
to see that SIG had also included their X-ray day/nights sights
on this version of the P938. Comparing them to the white
plastic “U” shaped sights that come standard on a Glock model
43 or the notch cut into the frame of a Colt Mustang along with
the small bump meant to be a front sight and the P938 sights
win hands down straight out of the box. The more I inspected
the pistol after unboxing it, the more excited I was to get to the
range and put it through its paces.
Once at the range, I loaded up the three seven round
magazines that come standard with the Legion P938 package
with an odd assortment of 9mm ammo. Including some
of SIG’s new, high-performance SIG 365 Elite Performance
Ammunition in 115gr 9mm FMJ (More on this product at a later
date.) As I took to the range, I slowly worked through the
first magazine focusing on the feel of the trigger and trying
to find its reset point. Due to regularly shooting my Glock 19X
with its stock trigger and short reset, my first couple of shots
with the heavier trigger felt a bit jerky. On the third shot, I
noticed the reset “click” and adjusted my trigger pull tension.
Afterwards, shooting the P938 started to feel comfortable and
relaxed. At 7 yards, I was hitting 6 out of 7 shots onto a 2” by 3”
orange reflective bullseye plastered on a make shift yard sign
target. After about 30 rounds or so, I started working through
controlled double taps and then came a few mag dumps fast
32

enough to run dry quickly, but not too fast as to lose defensive
accuracy.
During reloads, I noticed the magazine would slide in about half
way without any resistance at all then stop. With a firm slap
from the bottom, the mag snapped into place with an audible
click of the magazine catch. This was evidently a design feature
to ensure the user firmly seated the magazine in each time.
The design worked because I found myself dropping mags and
slapping fresh ones in much faster and firmer than I would with
my usual polymer guns.
I was impressed with the clarity of X-ray day/night sights,
and how easy it was to re-acquire a crisp sight picture for
follow-up shots. Another item I would like to note is the ease of
manipulation of the pistols slide. Generally, with pistols in this
category the recoil spring is very heavy leading to some people
having difficulty racking the slide during normal operations,
let alone when there are any outside stressors taking a toll on
them. This is an issue that I have been trying to address with
my wife and our quest to find her the perfect defensive firearm.
Since I would be spending quality time over the next few
months carrying the SIG Legion 938 concealed, I decided to
reach out to my friend and local holster maker, Jim Kay at
Panther Concealment located here in Northeast Florida. Jim is
well known locally for his no nonsense practical kydex holsters.
I explained to Jim what I was looking for in a concealment
holster for the tiny P938. He immediately told me that he had
just the holster I was looking for!
A couple days later just in time for another range trip, I
arranged to meet Jim at his workshop to pick up the holster.
Jim’s holster design was constructed to allow the clip to be
switched for right or left-handed inside the waistband carry
with a straight drop or zero cant. The P938’s short 3-inch barrel,
combined with Jim’s excellent holster allowed for comfortable
carry practically 360 degrees around the body. What separates
this combo from others on the market is the size allows for
the gun to almost disappear from detection while still being
large enough to provide a full master grip and speedy draw
onto target. From the draw to shots fired, this gun and holster
combo covered all three “must haves” in a carry gun package.
It was very controllable, accurate and comfortable carrying in all
positions for extended periods of time.
THE LOWDOWN
As we come to the end of this review project, I would like to
mention I went in to this project with some misgivings. My
initial concerns based on appearances alone about the P938
were it would possibly be too heavy, too small and not very
controllable thus affecting accuracy on the range due to its size
and caliber. Much to my delight over the past year, I was wrong
on all points.
Shooting the P938 wasn’t even remotely close to the
experience of shooting most guns in the pocket pistol category.
Usually, I find the frames are undersized even for medium to
small hands let alone large hands like my own which causes
unwanted movement and constant regripping during firing.
I enjoyed the weight of the P938 absorbing more felt
recoil than my Glock 43 which resulted in quicker follow up
shots. Where the pistol excelled in carry for me was tucked
inside the waistband with the Panther Concealment holster at
the appendix position. The weight kept the pistol positioned
perfectly and I could access it in nearly any seated or standing
position. This gave me a solid piece of mind knowing I would
be fully prepared to react to an immediate threat situation.
With a MSRP of around US$900, this may seem steep for
a small pistol, but consider several things first. Most microsized
9 mm pistols on the market retail for around the US$400
- US$500 price point, before shooters commonly spend another
$500 on average to enhance their gun. Common upgrades
include smoothing out the trigger, add better sights, adding
an ambidextrous trigger (if applicable), purchasing a third
magazine, adding a mag well and changing out the typical
factory black finish only to end up adding an additional US$400
- US$500 to their factory gun.
After spending time with the Legion 938 pistol, customers
may initially spend a couple hundred dollars more than the
base model but end up with custom shop quality for far less
than custom prices. Right out of the box, the Legion pistol is
the complete package. Other than even more magazines, I
could not think how SIG could further improve the gun. I easily
consider the time invested this year well spent in really getting
to learn the Legion 938.
As it has been my experience, pistols specifically designed
for CCW are typically built to be carried often but shot irregularly
due to heavy recoil, I didn’t find this to be the case for the P938.
It is a true shooter and proven performer based on a historic
design. For this shooter, the SIG Legion P938 is a highly capable
and recommended handgun for everyday personal defense
carry. To find out more about the Legion P938 and other great
products from SIG SAUER, visit their website at https://www.
sigsauer.com/ and discover the one that best fits your needs.
To find out more about Panther Concealment check out http://
www.pantherconcealment.com/
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
FIREARMS: SIG SAUER LEGION P938
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
BLADES: DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
Throughout history, various cultures have held edged tools, knives specifically, symbolic of strength, power
and survival. As special operators around the globe can tell you, there are still many countries today in
which their society holds symbols of battle such as a soldier’s knife as a reflection of his character, honor
and status; Trampas digs deeper...
To wield a high-quality blade with power and
deliberation is a well-respected feat among
men regardless of language barriers, religion
or education. While it is more common these
days for warriors to carry commercially
manufactured during peace time and war,
there are those however who still honor the
old ways of learning the secrets of steel.
These architects of glowing hot metal and
heavy hammer regularly create some of the best blades
in the world in which any survivalist, tribesman or special
operations operator would be honored to employ. This
month, PMCI looks at once such special blade project created
by a skilled keeper of the old ways of hammer and forge.
Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few
years, you already know, one of the biggest things to
happen to the knife community has been television’s Forged
in Fire presented by the History Channel. Each week 4
contestants battle it out building custom blades under time
limits for a chance to overnight become a household name
by winning the episode and a check for US$10,000. Each
one of these everyday knife makers are potentially the next
Ernie Emerson, Bill Harsey or Gil Hibben. One of the most
outstanding of these contestants is Dustin Rhodes. Dustin
made his appearance on the show’s Season 4 Episode 2.
34

Rhodes not only appeared on Forged in Fire but went on to
compete on the Discovery Channel’s show, Master at Arms.
While entertaining, both these programs only scratched the
surface of displaying Rhode’s talent and creativity. Earlier this
year, I had the distinct pleasure of getting to know Dustin and
collaborating on a custom knife project. What would emerge a
few months later would be nothing short of amazing!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Based on the nature of the blades intended use as a large tactical
/ survival knife, Dustin tweaked his custom recurve chopper
design to become a combat camp variant. Built from 1080 High
Carbon steel, this knife was hand forged by the man himself,
Dustin Rhodes in his Forge Works shop located in Shobonier,
Illinois. Sporting an overall length of 12 5/8”, the menacing 8”
blade with a max width of 2 1/8” and very comfortable black
paper Micarta grips. The blade was finished in antique blue and
accompanied by a utility Kydex sheath featuring a quick clip for
easily attaching to a belt or gear.
When the knife arrived, removed it from the shipping box and
wiped the excess oil off. The razor-sharp edge quietly sliced
through the cloth I was using to dry the blade. I noticed the
balance for such a large knife was quite impressive. As I practiced
my grip on the contoured scales, I enjoyed how the weight
seemed comfortably forward of the ricasso over its choil. With
slightly less weight than a hatchet, knife did however, feel like
a tool of heavy destruction. Having spent time working in areas
with thick density underbrush, I could see how this knife could
easily play many roles during jungle operations for military, LE
and contractors alike.
FIELD TESTING
A few days later, I met up with fellow Swanson Media Group
writer, Jerry Moody at our private training grounds affectionately
known as “The Swamp” to give the chopper a workout. The main
goal was not to see how the blade would do in a competition
setting, but rather, an everyday, utility role for camping, hunting
and small chores around the range. We work hard, we play even
harder, we expect a custom camp blade to do the same.
To start with, Jerry set up a 4” diameter Ash log for me to
chop into. To put the hardness of this wood into perspective for
you, this is what Louisville Slugger makes their baseball bats out
of due to the high density factor. The expectation of this stage
of test was more to see what the wood did to the blade edge
and not so much what the blade did to the wood. Just cutting a
section of the log with a handheld sawsall took a considerable
about of time. After about 15 intense minutes of Jerry and I taking
turns on the log, there was a rather impressive about of damage
done to the log. The shock coming through the blade from striking
the immensely dense would was that of what one would image
striking two rolling pins together. Upon inspection of the blade’s
edge, it was still razor sharp without any dinging or rolling.
As with most knife tests, we had to include a water bottle test
because you never know when someone in camp will only want
half a bottle, right? You guys ask for it, so we include it. To reduce
any possible injury, I used the conveniently located lanyard hole
in the knife handle to attach cordage in order to secure it to my
wrist. With the flick of a wrist, the test was over, and the water
bottle was cleanly halved. It went so quickly; I repeated the
process several times just to get the full experience of what I
often see in slow motion videos.
BLADES: DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
BLADES: DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
After cutting through everything from paracord to bungee
straps, I decided to see what sort of damage the chopper would
do to a 2x4 board. After securing it into a vise, I went to work
chopping deeply into the pinewood as debris flew everywhere.
After only five short minutes, the blade had chewed through
most of the board with ease. As I ran the blades edge down a
piece of paper, it still retained enough sharpness to slice down
into it. The overall design of the blade and the comfort of the
G10 grips gave me complete control over the large knife even
as I grew tired from the laborious chopping.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I really enjoyed working with this Dustin Rhodes
creation I simply refer to as “the Chopper”. The no nonsense
design, performance and craftsmanship displayed in this knife
was highly impressive. During these past few months, I have
really enjoyed not only working with the blade but getting to
know the blade maker as well. The depth of knowledge Dustin
has for understanding steel and knowing what designs and
materials match up best with the intended tasks of the tools he
creates is inspiring to say the least.
For those interested in having Dustin create a project in the
style of our test blade, you would first need to contact him via
www.facebook.com/drfwemrknives/ to check availability on
his company’s books. If you are new to the custom blade world,
you must understand, these blades are hand forged and each
unique in their own way. This takes time and as with anything,
the time of a skilled professional equals a price worthy of
that level product. The base model camp knife offered in this
style by Dustin starts at US$650 and can range up to US$850
depending on variant such as this combat camp blade.
I have been very fortunate over the past decade to work
with some amazing bladesmiths around the country and
even throughout Iceland, Nepal and the UK. Based on my
experience, I hold Dustin Rhodes in the highest regard for being
able to produce a robust, quality blade built for hard use in
the harshest of climates. I look forward to seeing where my
adventures lead with the “Chopper” in hand. If having
a custom fixed blade knife built for you as well sounds
like you need to represent your warrior status, I highly
recommend making Dustin Rhodes one of the people
you should talk to. Until next issue, keep your skills
honed and your blades sharp!
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pmcimagazine.com
TORRENT AK-47 SUPPRESSOR
TORRENT SUPPRESSOR
The AK-47 is undoubtably the most popular battle rifle around the globe, from tribal warriors in far
reaches of Africa to top tier special operators of the mightiest armies in modern history. Hell, the iconic
piston driven rifle has even made an appearance on national flags! Trampas gets his “Three Stripe” on
to look at how things are moving forward.
For American operators, who have a love affair with
the gas operated M4 platform, the AK still offers
them a a wide range of practical applications
within their arsenal. The U.S. Operators often use
AK-47 for covert warfare to reduce their signature
footprint in politically restricted areas as well as
unit cohesion when working with or training other
international forces. A key tool used by many
operators in conjunction with the AK platform is a
quality suppressor to not only reduce sound levels but flash
signature as well. This month, PMCI looks at two suppressor
options designed specifically for the AK-47 chambered in 7.62 x
39 mm by Torrent Suppressors, the MILITARY ONLY model TMIL-7
and the civilian model, the Gospodin 7.
For those of you familiar with Torrent Suppressors products,
you may first ask two questions. First, “what is different
between the Gospodin 7 and the TMIL-7?” and secondly, “what
separates them from the other .30 suppressors offered by the
company?”.
These are easy to answer questions both mechanically and
38

based on extensive experience with Torrent’s standard .30 cal
suppressor, the T3. I have run this original .30 cal suppressor
on everything from .300 Blackout to 6.5 Creedmoor with very
impressive results over the past few years.
The Gospodin 7 and TMIL-7 differ only by the materials (
Titanium vs Stainless Steel ) used inside to withstand the
extensive heat of sustained full auto fire. The design is the same,
highly effective baffle system but different in cost ( Titanium
being much a good deal more expensive in raw material and
production ). The average AK enthusiast shouldn’t have to pay
for the expense of producing a full auto rated product if most
of them are never going to be able to sustain the amount of
heat needed to warrant such a product. Torrent agrees and for
a sub US$900 suppressors, you still get a very durable product
that can handle moderate full auto fire without the high price
of this quality of a product. The Military Only version, the TMIL-
7’s more expensive Titanium construction may cost more to
produce but can easily handle the intense heat generated in a
prolonged gun fight if needed.
On the outside, the sleek, sexy appearance of these two
AK suppressors look just like Torrent’s original line of .30 cans
such as my older model T3. This is not purely cosmetic because,
construction wise, the AK suppressor is simply a T3 threaded
with a 14x1 LH pitch common in AK-47 rifles such as our
Romanian SAR 1 test model. For me, the fact this is basically
the same suppressor minus the thread pitch change is a huge
bonus because the T3 has already proven its effectiveness with
a wide range of calibers and ammunition over the past 3 years.
A few factors come into play when it comes to why even
suppress the AK platform. First, the AK-47’s 7.62x39mm is the
same diameter of the highly effective .308 round in which as a
former SWAT sniper, I made a career out of mastering.
The reliability and high capacity of the AK-47 chambered
in 7.62x39mm has made it a very formidable foe of both .308
and .223. The 7.62x39 is also loaded to lower pressures than
that of its .308 counterpart and combined with the host rifle’s
piston operated system, the entire platform lends itself to
being suppressed relatively well using standard battle-ready
ammunition.
To prove how well the AK could be used suppressed in the
battlespace, we decided to focus on using standard, easy to
source ammo like that used by private military contractors and
specialized operators around the world. So why not specialized
subsonic ammo testing you may ask? Traditionally, the AK is
not the ideal platform to run subsonic ammunition through and
expect a rifle designed like a 1930’s washing machine to run
smoothly or quietly. Keep in mind, the main attraction of using
a suppressor for the AK platform is to reduce hearing damage
and flash signature in clandestine operations.
SPECS
Test rifle: Romanian SAR 1
Caliber Rating: 7.62/30 cal
Thread Pitch: 14×1 LH (AK -47)
Color: Black / FDE / Ti RAW
Color Finish: High-Temperature Cerakote®
Length: 7.75”
Diameter: 1.48”
Weight: 10 oz
Sound Reduction: AK 128 dB (unsuppressed AK 159 dB)
Material: Ti 6Al-4V (Grade 5)
Rating: Responsible FA (Godspodin), Full Auto (TMIL-7)
Price Point: Godspodin7 US$850
RANGE TIME
As good as the Torrent suppressors looked, it would be on the
range where they really shine. Using a Romanian SAR 1 AK-47
as a host rifle, it was a simple switch from the flash hider to
installing the suppressor in order to get started. Using a mix
124 grain FMJ Wolf Military Classic ammo and 122 grain FMJ
ammo from TulAmmo, I loaded up several 30 round magazines
before getting started. Within the first 10 shots, I could already
tell a difference in noise level from the first shot to the last.
The AK’s regular recoil began to feel more like recoil
impulse as the piston system digested the increased gas blow
back and continued to work thought each round unphased.
(It’s an AK, did we expect any less?). Obviously, the supersonic
round was still loud, but easily tolerable while shooting without
hearing protection for the entire day. Roughly a 27 - 30 dB
difference was noticed via two different sound meter programs
downloaded onto my smart phone.
After over 200 rounds of immediate fire, the suppressor
was heating up quickly. When sitting the rifle on the shooting
bench, I made sure to use the Liberty Defense handy mat sent
over with the suppressors from Ms. Clover at Torrent. This came
in handy for not burning the table with the hot suppressor as
well as making sure the suppressor remained tightly fitted on
the rifle. These mats are made from the same high temperature
resistant materials that Liberty Defense makes their amazing
line of suppressor covers from. These have served well on
many of the full auto rated suppressors when have tested at
past events using both the M4 and AK platforms.
One of the many misconceptions of the AK platform is they
are inaccurate, and whilst the AK is NOT a precision rifle, it can be
a very spot-on battle rifle. The three AK-47 rifles in my personal
collection are a short-barreled Krinkov configured Yugoslavian
built NPAP from Zestava, a full-length Russian made Saiga and
the Romanian test rifle. All three have performed very well at
common combat distances in both accuracy and offer stellar
reliability. What impressed me the most about using the Torrent
suppressors on my AK rifle was the total lack of shift between
point of aim and point of impact unlike several suppressors I
have attempted to use in the past from other manufacturers.
This basically means, where I aim in coloration with where
the rounds strike when shooting suppressed is practically the
exact same as when I shoot unsuppressed. This is often a factor
needed to be considered with lesser suppressor products.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I enjoyed running the Torrent AK Suppressors during our
3-month test period. For sound suppression, Torrent continued
to match or beat others on the market given the ammo used
throughout all the AK testing our team does. What greatly
stood out was the lack of flash was just as impressive as its
lack of shift. These two variants flawlessly help cycle over 500
rounds of test ammo during several range visits and continued
proving to be worthy of the company’s reputation from top
quality products.
As with other suppressors I have tested in past from
Torrent, I found the AK models were very well made and at an
TORRENT AK-47 SUPPRESSOR

pmcimagazine.com
TORRENT AK-47 SUPPRESSOR
affordable price point the average shooter
can invest in. The construction quality
has often been commented on by many
industry giants as to how crisp and clean
the welds and threading were compared to
other suppressors on the market.
This is simply another credit to
the overall professionalism in which Torrent
Suppressors does business. While their
company has only been around now for a
few short years, the combined experience
of the people who make up Torrent
Suppressors have been in the industry for
years and behind dozens of successful,
well-known products. To find out more
about the featured suppressors
and other products from
Torrent, visit them at www.
torrentsuppressors.com . Until
next time, Train Hard and
Continue the Fight!
40

VX BUCKLE UP
GUN CARRIER
BLACK / DARK COYOTE
/ GREEN / VCAM
/ SRP: £79.95

pmcimagazine.com
ASP TALON BATON REVIEW
ASP TALON BATON REVIEW
For many armed professionals, the impact weapon—along with proper training, discipline and skill development
in its role in the use of force continuum—has meant the difference between safety and danger, even life and
death. Trampas gets to grips with the very latest from ASP
During my career as a Deputy Sheriff, this was
certainly true on several occasions. Thankfully,
I had at my disposal a tool from ASP; the
company has been synonymous with top-quality
collapsible batons for decades. ASP’s eagle logo
is recognized and respected worldwide by law
enforcement, private contractors and military
personnel, and others who carry batons into
service, for its dependability and standardsetting
in the industry.
Our brother staff writer and career PMC Shawn Swanson put it
best when he said;
“The collapsible baton, such as the ASP, is an indispensable
tool, and a much needed update to the age-old wooden baton
that those in more savage times would rely on as a control and
force option. It is imminently deployable, compact, and a sound
give/take between tool strength and weight. When employed
properly, it is an easily-accessed psychological de-escalation
tool, a control device when cuffing and restraining, and when
necessary, a force-multiplier when an engagement escalates.”
Not to rest on their laurels, ASP constantly seeks to improve
on its designs, whether it is with improved performance, speed
or strength, all the while trying to minimize the operator’s gear
42

weight burden. And thanks to those efforts, along with advanced
engineering and materials, the future of impact weapons is here—
this month, we feature ASP’s all-new Talon Infinity Baton.
We’ll review the things that make this version of the company’s
gold standard of impact weapons unique, and why many armed
professionals are quickly making the switch from their classic steel
friction batons. ASP sent us the Airweight version of the new baton
(we were one of the first media outlets to receive one), so we will
focus on that:
SPECS
Model: Talon Infinity
Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum middle shaft & 4140 steel (all-steel
version available)
Lengths: 40mm, 50mm and 60mm (extended length)
Weight: 8.8 ounces, 11.2 ounces and 12 ounces (Airweight models)
Price: $165.32 - $176.02 US
So, let’s get right to what makes the Infinity design so special. This
isn’t just a simple rework of the original ASP Friction Loc platform,
or even of the earlier Talon models; it’s a true generational change,
from the ground up.
This revolutionary baton uses a disc-locking system that
engages an internal groove machined into each tube. The Infinity
design incorporates fewer moving parts than earlier Talon iterations,
improving performance, strength and reliability. Extension is
lightning-fast, positive and secure in both the upward (“to the
sky,” as taught in ASP training) and downward (“to the ground”)
deployment. The new locking system allows for not only a smoother,
more positive extension, but release and retraction as well. Just the
overall mechanical simplicity of this design clearly lends itself to
being one of the most reliable collapsible batons on the market
today.
The new engineering and material combination also eliminates
need for routine lubrication and makes it virtually maintenancefree.
This is a valuable point to note, as low-to-no maintenance
reliability positively contributes to office/operator safety. Over my
tenure as a law enforcement officer, I witnessed and/or used ASP
batons hundreds of times to assist in securing an arrest, subduing
violent criminals, and entering homes and vehicles via defeating
glass barriers. On all those occasions putting the ASP into action,
I rarely remember officers, (myself included) taking the time to
properly maintain their batons other than wiping them down with
Clorox wipes. The Infinity design aids in making sure this vital piece
of equipment will continue to work when needed.
Talon Batons feature an easy-to-use pushbutton release, which,
unlike the original Friction Loc Batons, eliminates the need to strike
the end of the baton into a hard surface to collapse it. This in turn
makes it quicker to secure when performing tasks such as arresting
and cuffing a suspect, and allows the operator to do so without the
need to kneel and find a hard surface to strike; again, an officer
safety consideration. Not to mention, having worked the bulk of
my career in very rural areas, hard ground surfaces weren’t always
immediately available after chasing a suspect into the woods or
heavily vegetated fields.
Weight is another key reason I really like and appreciate the
Talon Airweight version in particular. After spending over a decade
carrying all-steel ASP Friction Loc batons, I can confidently attest
to the concept of ounces turning into pounds as the hours go by.
The weight difference between the all-steel designs and the Infinity
Airweight Talon may not seem like a lot to the inexperienced user,
but I promise, you will feel it over the course of a day. You would
be hard-pressed to find someone in the field who formerly carried
the older steel design, who isn’t eternally grateful for the Airweight
option for this reason alone. Also, its light weight makes it possible
to slip the baton into a pocket without “sagging,” while its large grip
surface area makes it easy to retrieve from concealment.
The Talon also features a larger tip, when compared to friction
models. This not only provides an enlarged striking surface, but adds
the ability to covertly deploy the baton by quietly pulling the baton
open with just your fingertips.
Our sample baton featured the new Vector Grip option. Having
used batons with foam grips for years, the new, molded Vector
surface gives a good bit more felt “traction”. When reaching behind
me to draw the baton from under my cover shirt, I felt I had more
control with indexing the grip and delivering pinpoint strikes.
Whether the grip was dry, wet from rain or sweat from training in
ASP TALON BATON REVIEW
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
TACTICAL WEAPONS: RIFLE REBUILD
Florida humidity, the baton felt very secure in my hand. This was
one of the biggest features I really wish had been available during
my career.
These batons range between US$165.32 - US$176.02 US, with
an impressive offering of 42 different configurations to choose
from. The expanded variety of options include steel variants, the
popular Airweight series, electroless nickel finishes, standard
foam grips and my favorite, the Vector Grip. You can also choose
between pushbutton and push cap release/retraction. All are
available in three sizes—and if complete carry discretion is in
order, there’s the Agent series of concealable Talon system batons.
ASP is known for having the most baton options in the
business, and that includes a whole range of accessories. As I
was just discussing with fellow writer Clint Steele the other day,
I have always liked the company’s highly-functional and compact
scabbard designs. Cases like the Envoy model allow the Talon
baton to be closed directly into the scabbard, yet another operator
safety factor. Other accessories like glass-breaking BreakAway
Tips, Anti-Roll Grip Caps, pocket clips and more, make an already
great tool even better.
Last but not least, all of these baton advancements are backed
by an unprecedented “Infinity Warranty,” which covers everything,
any time, for any reason, forever, period. Just look for Infinity
symbol laser engraved on the baton nose cone. The Infinity design
and warranty continue to showcase how ASP leads the way into
the future with affordable, top-tier equipment for your tactical
toolbox.
Because ASP is also one of the most responsible law
enforcement companies I have known, they even offer tuition-free
training to qualified law enforcement personnel and agencies.
They believe that ensuring equipment is used in the safest
and most effective manner possible is part of their obligation. It’s
no wonder that this innovative company and its amazing new
design are a top pick of highly skilled professionals, in a category
of tools that often gets overlooked and underestimated. To find
out more about the Talon and other ASP products visit them today
at www.asp-usa.com.
44

PMCI
BOOK REVIEW
BATTLE FOR SKYLINE RIDGE:
THE CIA SECRET WAR IN LAOS
If you have an interest in operations where “the little guy triumphs
against the odds” then this compelling book should definitely be
on your reading list! In late 1971, the People’s Army of Vietnam
launched “Campaign Z” into northern Laos, escalating the war in
Laos with the aim of defeating the last Royal Lao Army troops. The
PAVN troops numbered 27,000 and brought with them 130mm
field guns and T-34 tanks, while the North Vietnamese air force
launched MiG-21s into Lao air space.
General Giap’s specific orders to this task force were to kill the
CIA army under command of the Hmong war lord Vang Pao and
occupy its field headquarters in the Long Tieng valley of northeast
Laos. They faced the rag-tag army of Vang Pao, fewer than 6,000
strong and mostly Thai irregulars. In 1970 the Thai army recruited
young Thai men to fight for the CIA in Laos, and by the time the
PAVN launched their first attack, 4,000 “Tahan Sua Pran” had
been recruited, armed, trained and rushed in position in Laos
to defend against the impending invasion. They reinforced Vang
Pao’s indigenous army of 1,800 Lao hill-tribe guerrillas.
Despite the odds being overwhelmingly in the PAVN’s favour,
the battle did not go to plan. It raged for more than 100 days, the
longest in the Vietnam War, and it all came down to Skyline Ridge.
As at Dien Bien Phu, whoever won Skyline, won Laos. Against all
odds, against all expectations, the PAVN lost, their 27,000-man
invasion force routed.
James Parker served in Laos and has been trying to tell this
story for years; finally he was able to piece together his own
knowledge with CIA files and North Vietnamese after-action
reports so that now the full story of the battle of Skyline Ridge
can be told. This book is somewhat different to most as it quotes
comprehensively from PAVN notes and after-action reports
published in Hanoi after the war. This draws you in with a view
into what the “other side” had to say about the events portrayed,
and sheds a fresh light on the battle.
James E. Parker was one of the first American soldiers into
Vietnam, and he was the last to leave in 1975. In between
he married, graduated UNC and joined the CIA. His first CIA
assignment was upcountry Laos where he led Hmong hill-tribe
guerrillas against two divisions of North Vietnamese soldiers.
After paramilitary work in Laos/Vietnam, Parker went on to
serve undercover in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, retiring
in 1992. His books included Last Man Out: A Personal Account of
the Vietnam War, and Covert Ops: The CIA’s Secret War in Laos.
James spent years researching the battle of Skyline Ridge and
working on this book; he sadly died while it was in production.
Hardback: 288 pages
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612007058
ISBN-13: 978-1612007052
BOOK REVIEW

pmcimagazine.com
6MM TRAINING
ATTACKSENSE ELECTRONIC TARGETS
With “6mm Training” now becoming a “thing” in the minds of not only shooters but indeed some of the big
firearms manufacturers the PMCI team are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative training products.
Bill has been following the rollout of a fabulous system from Attack Sense originating in the UK and now gives
it the attention it so richly deserves!
Sooo, “6mm Training”is “a thing” right enough,
but I’m still finding that some shooters are
denying that this is anther useful tool in the
box, and I genuinely have to qestion why?
Anything, and by that I do mean ANY THING,
that makes us more competent, and above all
safer, shooters MUST be a good thing surely?
I have said this in the past on numerous
occasions, but being resident in the UK means
that my access to handguns and any semi-automatic long
gun above .22 for training is severely limited; it’s only when
I’m lucky enough to work with a “Section 5” dealer (and that
also has its limitations legally in the UK!) that I get my hands
on something “meaningful”, and otherwise I have to head
to sunnier climes (poor me!) to lay down some rounds; this
involves an investment of both time and money.
However, in the meantime I do still want to work on
my “skills and drills” without breaking the bank, and whilst
running countless dry manipulations, magazine changes and
transititions is all very well, it’s absolutely no substitute for
some intensive live target work. I do this on a regular basis
using “6mm” (read airsoft BB!) replicas, and it would appear
that from the growing buzz in the training world I am far from
alone in this, up to and including some LE units around the
globe!
But how do yomake your 6mm training varied and vaild?
A friend of mine, Phil, recently acquired a superb new training
system from a UK-based company called AttackSense, and
having spoken to him about it at length I decided to approach
them myself, and have been so impressed, not only by the
system itself, but by their open approach that I felt it 100%
necessary to bring their training products to your attention as
soon as possible!
To set the tone though Phil has been kind enough to
let me share some of his initial overview comments on the
AttackSense system, and I thank him for his input to this article.
He told me:
“I often find myself traveling through the internet to find new
and exciting things to look into more and see what it’s all about.
One evening whilst on YouTube, I saw a video with some rather
funky target system that responded to being hit and could run
different programs, all done through a wireless link. Not only
that, but it gave real quantifiable data and, as a scientist at
heart, having a way to actually measure any improvements
was a huge plus!”
In the words of the guys behind AttackSense from the website:
“AttackSense is a wireless electronic target system that’s
affordable, versatile and easy to use. Our targets work across
a large area and connect to an app that lets (users) act out
a variety of target practise, competitive shooting and multiplayer
scenarios.Up to 32 targets can be connected together
using our round builder to create complex practical shooting
and kill house configurations, with automatic scoring and
interactive leaderboards.”
46

Back to Phil:
“Wow, right!? I mean that’s quite a lot of functionality and potential
isn’t it? I got in touch with the guys who own and run this UKbased
company to see if I could borrow a set for a review and I
was delighted when a few days later a couple of boxes arrived. I’d
been sent the starter pack, which retails for UK£395 and includes
five targets, five batteries, five tree mounts, a battery charger and
five replaceable front panels. What you’ll need on top of this if
you want to run them on stands, is a set of camera light stands
(available from the AttackSense shop or Amazon/eBay) and an
Android device to run the app that controls it all. You can buy
a tablet pretty cheaply to do this and the guys had included a
LenovoTab E7 in the boxes. They offer this an option with the 3D
printed mount and a tripod stand, for a very reasonable UK£79
extra.”
SETTING UP
When you receive the sytem I can now say that setting up is a
breeze! Once the tablet is on and you’ve opened up the app, you
just connect the batteries to one of the targets and it will become
the “Master”; wait until you see this one on the screen and then
plug the rest in. Any target can be the Master unit so there’s no
worries that you’ve connected them up wrong. You can attach
up to 32 targets to one control unit but trust me; after having a
go with ten, that’s more than enough and that number had both
the old heart rate and adrenaline going at max output! Once they
are connected, they will be able to communicate with each other
anywhere in a square 100m x 100m, and that’s a pretty big area.
If it is in dense woodland though, these numbers will be reduced
as the signal will obviously have interference but it is rarely more
than a few metres difference. From here it is simply a case of
entering your name if you so wish and then picking your poison.
Speaking of which, there are eleven options on there, which
include things like “Shoot When Lit”, “Target Practice”, “Shoot No
Shoot” and a particular favourite of mine, an electronic version
of a dueling tree, where you have to get all the targets your
colour whilst another shooter does the same. That is an immense
amount of fun but the first few times I guarantee that as good as
you may think you are you will fluff a mag change or transition
and you will get it so wrong you just start swearing!
There is also a “Custom Round Configurator” option, so you
can program the targets to do exactly what you want from them,
even having previously “hit” targets coming back into play at a
predetermined point, which is a pretty cool feature and a definite
improvement over paper targets or knockdown ones. The team
at AttackSense are always evolving the product offering and
can write pretty much anything for it. They welcome feedback
and suggestions; there have already been three updates to the
software since Phil receieved his set!
THE APP
Through the app you get real time data on the status of the
targets, their batteries and of course the all important data on
how well you’re shooting. I would suggest that to get a baseline
score do a round of “Shoot When Lit” first, before you do anything
else and then crack on with whatever you want to have a play
with but at the end of your session (the supplied batteries can
last for the best part of a day so you could be a while!), repeat the
“Shoot When Lit” program and then, using the in-app recording,
you can check your scores and see, hopefully, an improvement.
The first time Phil used it he noticed he was approximately 50%
faster than his first run and he tells me hes has improved more
since then too, mainly in mag changes and transitions, which, in
his words, “were frankly shocking to begin with”.
So how does this magical system work then? Basically the
“target” is an aluminium sheet with a plastic correx faceplate
screwed to it, which is replaceable. In the centre of this is a
CNC milled opaque lens, protecting the RGB LEDS that provide
the different colours for “Shoot No Shoot” or other and they
are perfectly bright enough to be seen at distance so you know
you’ve hit them. Each hit also registers on the controller and
there’s a beep too, so it guarantees that you know what’s what.
They don’t currently say where on the target they are hit, just that
they are hit. Phil tells me that so far his set shows absolutely zero
signs of use or damage on the lenses, not even a slight indent
after extended use.
Everything to make the targets work is contained inside 3D
printed boxes on the back of each aluminium backing and there
are no moving parts to be knocked about by continued hits and
the aluminium sheet is plenty thick enough to provide years and
years of trouble free use with 6mm BBs. The batteries are also
protected in 3D printed cases that slide onto mounts next to the
target box so there is no danger of damaging these during use.
Once you’ve finished a round, the app can display a multitude
of stats to embarrass you, including your worst split or worst
reaction time but it really does drive you to do better.
I got together with Neil from AttackSense a short while back
and he told me;
6MM TRAINING
pmcimagazine.com

pmcimagazine.com
6MM TRAINING
“We started AttackSense after recognising that no system
existed that provided reactive training targets which could
monitor shooter performance and function in a representative
environment. With our experience gained from the drone
industry we developed a reliable wireless target system that
could operate in any environment, with the levels of robustness
needed to provide long service life in the harsh use case targets
find themselves in. It was critical to us that the system would
operate using a tablet computer, to provide the level of detail
we wanted to track shooter performance over time and to
support future proofing, something our customer enjoy with
frequent updates supporting new features and shooter tracking.
As the system grows and our user base increases, we’re
currently re-investing 100% of our revenues back into the
product. This is allowing us to innovate with R&D in software to
improve the features and use cases we support, and in hardware
with different target designs for new environments as well as
companion units for start / stop indication, movement sensing,
flow control and improved immersion. Close engagement
with our customers is allowing us to improve the product and
find new directions to move in all the time, it’s an extremely
exciting time for us as it is for the industry in general.”
Updates and system durability/longevity improvements are
already being introduced thanks to that oh-so-importanmt user
feedback, and I have every confidence that the team behind
these targets aren’t resting on their laurels and they’ve already
intimated that there is quite a lot more to come in the future.
I’ll be using the AttackSense system for personal training
and also as a testbed for new 6mm training weapons that we
see coming onto the market; this is 100% a focus for the PMCI
team at both SHOT and IWA 2020and I look forward to reporting
back further in due course!
If you’re amongst “the enlightened” who see 6mm training
as an extremely useful tool in your box then rest assured you’ll
find the very latest news here in PMCI, and we’ll be working
with AttackSense closely as we develop and champion this.
More information on AttackSense Targets can
be found at www.attacksense.com and also on
Facebook and Instagram; go check them out.
48

Advanced Security Protection
http://www.advancedsecurityprotection.com/
AKE Group
http://www.akegroup.com/
Ambrey Risk
http://www.ambreyrisk.com
Antipirates.Org
http://www.antipirates.org/
APPDS
http://www.appds.co.uk/
Aquatic Marine Ltd
http://www.aquaticmarineltd.com
Protect Asia Group
http://www.protectasia.com/
Secopex
http://www.secopex.com/
Aspida
http://www.aspida.org/
Associated Risk Maritime Risk Management
http://www.associated-risks.com
Bancroft Maritime Security Solutions
http://www.maritimesecuritysolutions.co.uk
Bechtel Corporation
http://www.bechtel.com/
Black Pearl
http://www.blackpearlmaritimesecurity.com/
Blackstone Consultancy
http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com;
Blue Hackle
http://www.bluehackle.com/
Blue Waters Partners Global
http://www.preparedex.com/
BP Global
http://www.bp.com/
Britam Defence
http://www.britamdefence.com/
British Maritime Solutions
http://britishmaritimesolutions.com
BW Offshore
http://www.bwoffshore.com/
Calibre International Security
http://www.calibre-international.com/
Chilport
http://www.chilport.co.uk/
Chiron Resources
http://www.chironresources.com
Clearwater Special Projects
http://www.bodyguarding.co.uk/
Control Risks
http://www.control-risks.com
Decatur Maritime Security
http://www.decaturms.com/
50

Drum Cussac
http://www.drum-cussac.com/Index.aspx
Dryad Maritime
http://www.dryadmaritime.com/
Edinburgh International
http://www.edinburghint.com/home/
Elite Maritime Protection Services
http://www.elitemaritimeprotection.com
EOS Risk Management
https://www.eosrisk.com/
Erus Maritime
http://www.erusrisk.com
Espada
http://www.espadaservices.com
Ex Military Recruitment
https://www.exmil.co.uk
Exploration Logistics Group
http://www.frontiermedex.com/
G4S Maritime
http://www.g4s.uk.com
Genesis Security Group
http://genesissecurity.com/
Global Executive Outreach
http://www.geo-ops.com/
Global Risk Security
http://www.globalrisksecurity.
co.uk/
Global Solace
http://www.solaceglobal.com/
Global Strategies Group
http://www.globalgroup.com/
Grail Security
http://www.grail.co.za
Halliburton
http://www.halliburton.com/en-USage
Halogen Security
http://www.halogensecurity.com/
Hart Maritime
http://www.hartsecurity.com
Hill & Associates
http://www.hillassoc.com
HP TerraMarine International
http://www.hpterramarine.com/
Hudson Trident
http://hudsonanalytix.com
ICTS
http://www.icts.co.uk
IMSA Ltd
http://www.imsaltd.com/
International Executive Recruiting
http://www.iernetwork.com
International Maritime Security
http://www.intmarsec.co.uk
International Maritime Security
http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/
International Security Network
http://www.isn.eu.com
ISC Gulf
http://www.iscgulf.com/
ISSG Sea Marshalls
http://www.issg-seamarshals.com/

Janusian Risk Advisory Group
http://www.riskadvisory.net/
Kroll
http://www.kroll.com/
Longmoor Group
http://www.longmoor-security.com
Lotus Maritime Security
http://www.lotusmaritime.com
Lotus Projects
http://www.lpyemen.com
Maersk
http://www.maersk.com/pages/default.aspx
Magregor Protection Services
http://macgregorprotectionservices.com
MTResolution
http://www.mtresolution.com/
MUSC
http://www.sps-global.com
Naval Guards
http://www.navalguards.com
Neptune Security
http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/
NNK Group
https://www.nnkcorporation.com
NYA International
http://www.nyainternational.com
Ocean Marshalls
http://www.oceanmarshalls.com
March Security
www.marchsecurity.com
Maritime Risk International
http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/
Marsec
http://www.marsec.eu.com
MAST
http://www.mast-commercial.com
McRoberts Maritime Security
http://www.mcrobertsmaritime.com/
Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre
http://www.mmwc.org/
Minimal Risk
http://www.minimalrisk.co.uk/
MSS
http://www.mss-uk.com
Ocean Protective Services
http://oceanprotectionservices.com
Oceaneering International
http://www.oceaneering.com/
Olchon
http://www.olchon.co.uk/
Olive Group
http://www.olivegroup.com/
Orchid Security
http://www.orchid-office.com/
Oxberry Risk Strategies
http://www.oxberryrisk.com/maritime_services
Pilgrim Group
http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com
Pilgrim Security
http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com
52

Pistris
http://www.pistris.com/Index.html
Protect Asia Group
http://www.protectasia.com/
PVI Ltd
http://www.pviltd.com/
Raven Special Projects Ltd
http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com
Red Cell Security
http://www.redcellsecurity.co.uk
Redfour-MSS
http://www.redfour-group.com
Saladin Security Group
http://www.saladin-security.com/
Saladin Security
http://www.saladin-security.com/
Salama Fikira
http://www.salamafikira.com/
SMS
www.specialistmarineservices.com
Tor International
http://www.torinternational.com/
Trojan Securities International
http://www.trojansecurities.com/
Orchid Security
http://www.orchid-office.com/
Blackstone Consultancy
http://www.blackstoneconsultancy.com/
Pilgrim Group
http://www.pilgrimsgroup.com/
Maritime Risk International
http://www.maritimeriskinternational.com/
International Maritime Security
http://www.intmarsec.co.uk/
Raven Special Projects Ltd
http://www.ravenspecialprojects.com/
Salamanca Risk Management
http://www.salamancarm.com
Sea Marshalls Ltd UK
http://www.seamarshals.com
SEAL
http://www.sealsecurity.com/
Securescot
http://www.securescot.com
Securewest International
http://www.securewest.com/
Security Networking Events
http://snespecialprojects.com/
Security Networking Events
http://snespecialprojects.com/
Securoquest
http://www.securoquest.co.za
Shield Risk Consulting
http://www.shield.eu/services/maritime-security/
Shipguard
http://www.mss-uk.com
SMS
www.specialistmarineservices.com
SPS
http://www.sps-global.com
Tactical Intel
http://www.tacticalintel.com/
Thalassic
http://www.thalassic.co.uk/
Tor International
http://www.torinternational.com/
Torcuss
http://www.torcuss.co.za/
Triskle TSL
http://www.triskelservices.com
Triton Security
http://www.tritoninternationalltd.com
Trojan Securities
http://www.trojansecurities.com
Veritas International
http://www.veritas-international.com/