PMCI - March 2021

MAR2021
CONTENTS
4 “DANGEROUS DRIVING”: PMCI IS DELIGHTED THIS ISSUE TO BE JOINED BY A NEW
CONTRIBUTOR IN THE USA, AS JIM WENZEL BRINGS HIS EXPERIENCE TO THE WORLD OF
DRIVING IN HIGH-STRESS, HIGH-RISK ENVIRONMENTS.
8 LVPO: VORTEX GEN III RAZOR 1-10X24: WHEN YOU NEED FOR AN OPTIC THAT CAN
EASILY HANDLE BOTH CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT (CQC) AND MID-RANGE WORK, THIS
IS THE REALM OF COMBAT DISTANCE AND SPECIFIC NEED IN WHICH THE LOW POWER
VARIABLE OPTIC (LPVO) REIGNS AS KING!
16. GEAR ON TEST: “GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS” COURTESY OF THE PMCI TEAM
18 GEAR: CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOOT: FOOTWEAR IS ONE OF THE MOST OFTEN AN
AREA THAT IS OVERLOOKED WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING YOUR GEAR LOAD TOGETHER,
SO BILL TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAIR
22 GEAR: CHEST RIGS: NEED A LITTLE MORE LOAD-BEARING GEAR BEYOND YOUR
PISTOL BELT? THEN A CHEST RIG COULD BE THE VERY THING AS PMCI LOOKS BACK INTO
THE PAST AND BRINGS THINGS FULLY UP TO DATE!
26 TO COMPETE OR NOT?: HUTCHY REJOINS US THIS TIME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION
AS TO WHETHER COMPETITION SHOOTING WILL ACTUALLY PROVE BENEFICIAL IN THE
TACTICAL SPHERE
28 KNIVES AND TOOLS: THE PILLAR: THE MOST COMMONLY DISCUSSED COMPROMISE
FOR MANY GUN OWNERS IS AN EDGED WEAPON; IT’S VERY COMMON FOR GUN
CARRIERS TO ALSO CARRY AN EDGED WEAPON EVERY DAY AND FOR A GOOD REASON,
AS JIM ILLUSTRATES THROUGH THE PILLAR FROM SOG
32 FIREARMS: SIG SCORPION P320 AXG: OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, THE HOTTEST
PISTOL PLATFORM ON THE MARKET HAS CLEARLY BEEN THE P320 SERIES FROM SIG
SAUER. FROM THE GROUND UP, THE AXG SCORPION HAS BEEN REDESIGNED BY THE SIG
SAUER CUSTOM SHOP TO BE THE TOOL OF A PROFESSIONAL AS TRAMPAS DISCOVERS
36 FIREARMS: GLOCK 44 PMCI RANGE TEST: TRAMPAS ASKS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
YOU CROSS THE HISTORY’S MOST POPULAR CALIBRE WITH THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR
FIREARMS MANUFACTURER? ANSWER; YOU GET THE GLOCK MODEL 44 CHAMBERED IN .22 LR!
40 SKILLS AND DRILLS: RANGE TO GO!: ANDY N LETS US ALL INTO THE SECRETS
BEHIND HIS GO-ANYWHERE RANGE IN A BAG.
42 6MM TRAINING: VEGAFORCECOMPANY TACTICAL CUSTOM 1911: BILL TAKES A
LOOK AT A 6MM TRAINING TOOL THAT ABSOLUTELY OOZES QUALITY, AND WITH SOME
SOUND “SWAT HERITAGE” BEHIND IT, IT’S A PISTOL THAT WILL BE A MUST HAVE FOR
MANY COLLECTORS AND SHOOTERS ALIKE.
47 BOOK REVIEW: “RISK TAKER, SPY MAKER: TALES OF A CIA CASE OFFICER”; FROM
TEENAGE PHOTOGRAPHER TO CLANDESTINE SERVICE IN OPERATIONS AROUND THE
WORLD, THIS IS ONE HECK OF A READ!
50 INDUSTRY VACANCIES: LOOKING FOR WORK? JUST CHECK HERE.
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Editors reserve the right to edit submissions prior to publication.
Thank you for downloading this Edition of PMCI, the FREE digital publication dedicated to PMC Operatives. PMCI is written by
individuals with first-hand knowledge and experience of the subject they write about - and all of whom have an intimate
understanding of what the role entails and the day to day challenges faced by those working in this industry.
PMCI will provide a platform to review and discuss the things to matter to all of us, such personal equipment, training, employment
and lifestylestyle management - and these are also our core fundamentals. We hope you enjoy this Edition of PMCI and if you have
any feedback or comments, or would like to contrubute to future issues, please let us know by email to: editor@pmcimagazine.com
Editor (UK): Bill Thomas
Deputy Ed (USA): Trampas Swanson
Graphic Design: Baz Thakur/
Deadshot Design
Publisher: Nigel Streeter
Cover pic: PMCI collection
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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

4DANGEROUS DRIVING
DANGEROUS DRIVING!
BEING THE “DESIGNATED DRIVER” ALWAYS CARRIES A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE WHO RIDE
WITH YOU, BUT WHEN THAT ROLE IS UNDERTAKEN IN A HIGH-STRESS, HIGH-RISK SETTING YOU
ARE TAKING THE LIVES OF YOUR PASSENGERS LITERALLY INTO YOUR OWN HANDS, AND IT’S NOT
A ROLE FOR THE FAINT OF HEART OR UNCOMMITTED! OUR NEWEST CONTRIBUTOR JIM WENZEL
BRINGS HIS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO PMCI TO TELL MORE…
The ultimate goal is to not be in a situation where we
are forced to respond to a threat, however in reality,
there are going to be cases that cannot be avoided.
When faced with a threat, we want and need to
respond effectively and survive. As professionals,
we need to be committed to our training and
continuously build upon our knowledge and skills
needed to survive and protect a principal during
routine and attack type situations.
For this article, I would like to take you through
what it takes to become a Driver in the world of Private Security
and Military Contracting. I have had the opportunity to instruct
at various levels from the basic Law Enforcement Recruit at the
training academy to the proving grounds in the Private Sector
which has included training civilian contractors, Tier 1 Operators,
and members of various Federal Agencies that were preparing to
deploy overseas.
My aim is to provide some insight and overview into various
components of this demanding role and to show it takes a lot
more than just grabbing the keys and hopping behind the wheel.
Scenario: You have been tasked with being the Driver for your
detail, the responsibility of the team’s safety has been placed
squarely on your shoulders as you are the person that is required
to get them from point A to B in a safe and efficient manner.
Which of the 2 drivers described below do you wish to be:
Driver 1: Conducted pre-trip inspections of the vehicles, ensured
that they are detail ready, conducted a proper travel plan analysis
and mapped out the area of predictable travel. This driver also
conducted some surveillance of the route and determined routes
for contingencies.
Driver 2: Has been on many details throughout their tenure,
delegated the responsibility of the pre-trip inspections to
someone else although they will be the driver because they have
seniority. Briefly looked over the travel plan and believes he has
done this enough that he is ready to go.
What is tactical driving and what role does the driver play
in it? In a brief summary, tactical driving is the combination of
defensive and offensive driving, it is a skillset that is developed
to help combat vehicular ambushes. The driver is an integral part
of this solution as they hold the keys, figuratively and literally to
the survival of the team they are transporting.
PLANS FAIL, PREPARATION DOES NOT
The most common attacks occurring today by the primary terrorist
organizations are of the remote control or standoff variety. The
only way to defeat these attacks is to recognize pre-attack
planning events such as surveillance. Which brings us to one of
the many tasks that a driver should become familiar with and
assist with since they will be the one in control of the vehicle.
Know where to look for surveillance, this is done by conducting a
Travel Plan Analysis and An Area of Predictable Travel.
With the driver assisting in the planning of routes, conducting
dry runs, we are increasing survivability of the team and then
allows the driver to do their main job when in the vehicle which
is to assess the situations you are coming up on, make quick
decisions, stay in control of the vehicle and get to where you are
going alive and in one piece.
The other occupants of the vehicle are responsible for
whatever other tasks need to happen along the way. No matter
what the other tasks are, the driver needs to stay focused on the
task at hand and keep a 360-degree awareness of what ‘s going

on around the vehicle and where it’s headed. The objective is to
allow the driver to work the vehicle instinctively, which thereby
not only facilitates the detection of surveillance, but also helps
in the avoidance of crashes because during an emergency the
driver’s attention is drawn away from the act of driving the
vehicle. We want to instill the ability for the driver working the
car to be on autopilot, which effectively helps keep the driver
moving!
How do we become more instinctive and function at our peak
potential?
For one, the driver should only use 80% of their abilities,
which allows for effective stress management. The remaining
unused 20% will account for all the unknowns that they will
encounter.
Now let us go back to our two drivers we mentioned above
and add some more pieces to our scenario in order to paint a full
picture.
They both hop into their respective vehicles and head out of
the compound start their route. As they approach an intersection,
it is observed that there are several vehicles blocking the route
and some unusual movement in the area. With our understanding
of plans fail and preparation does not, which driver is better
equipped to deal with this issue?
Driver 1: Having done the preparation work, is more relaxed
in this situation as he/she developed several alternative options
during their prep work. This preparation also allowed the driver
to be more focused on their role, scanning their environment,
picking out the anomalies of the area, and being able to observe
the issue from a greater distance away, therefore allowing the
driver to put a contingency option in place and avoid the potential
threat encounter.
Now, Driver 2: They are not so fortunate in this same scenario.
For one, they did not have a plan to start with. They also did not
check their vehicle and relied on someone else to do it. Driver 2
now has a vehicle issue that they are trying to diagnose, keeping
them from scanning the environment. Before the driver realizes
it, they are stuck in the chokepoint, unaware of the potential
exits, this driver is now in a state of high stress as they scramble
to seek out options to get the vehicle MOVING and off the X.
This is just a small example of why preparation is key to any plan.
I have yet to see in my career any initial plan work out the way
it was intended. There is always some small or large detail that
needs to be added in order for the plan to work. Those details are
your preparation. When you prepare, options present themselves,
plans evolve, collaboration with the team takes place. Roles are
assigned, objectives are set, and the mission goes on.
TECHNIQUES NOT TRICKS INCREASE
SURVIVABILITY
If you have been in this industry long enough whether it’s
military, private contracting, or law enforcement; you will come
across some things that may seem great in theory however, they
come up short in the real-world application aspect of it.
One of the most common issues that I have come across is
the use of racing jargon and racing lines through corners. These
tips and techniques are great for the racetrack and for all intents
and purposes, that is where they need to stay. When it comes to
tactical and high-speed driving, it must be taught and learned
from the perspective that the driver will be using it on public
roads.
It needs to be conveyed and understood that in real life, the
risk of taking a corner at the limits of adhesion is not worth the
few seconds saved or the lives of those you are entrusted with
if the situation goes bad. Some key differences between the
racetrack and operational driving are:
Traffic will be coming in all directions on the roadway.
Blind corners mean that you have to stay in your own lane until
it can be verified as safe.
The corners are not be monitored by racing officials.
There are many types of vehicles on the road that are different
shapes, sizes, various speed of travel whereas in racing; the
vehicles are the same types and traveling at similar speeds.
In an actual race, each driver has the same purpose and has
similar training.
Apexes and braking reference points are not identified on
public roads.
In real world application, other drivers are paying very little
attention to the traffic situation, they are not perceiving your
DANGEROUS DRIVING
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6DANGEROUS DRIVING
speed, they are actually just interpreting your distance from them.
As drivers, preparation does not begin with the acceptance
of the task, it starts way before that, and it starts with YOU!
Therefore, the investment into yourself and training is
paramount. We must understand that although racing can
be exciting, simply put, most of the racing techniques do not
apply to public roads. Learning and practicing the techniques
that do count such as setting up for corners and where to focus
your attention, as well as being smooth in the operation of the
vehicle are key. When we learn evasive tactics, they need to be
taught as a way to accomplish the one evasive tactic that works;
MOVE! And not taught or used as tricks!
IF IT IS IN YOUR CONTROL, CONTROL IT!
We can control our preparation and we can control ourselves.
You should be setting the bar above the standard for yourself
and not accept anything less from yourself. Put in the time and
effort to become proficient at your role.
This means seeking out quality additional training when you
have downtime, driving is a perishable skill just like firearms.
You do not go to the firearms range once in your career and say
you’re proficient, right? Then do not accept that for your driver
training either. There are plenty of reputable training facilities
where you can learn vehicle dynamics and put yourself to the
test of how well you can interpret the “Vehicle Language.” Seek
out training with real-world application, do not just spend time
on the race track!
Some things to make note of and mention as well are the
personal components of being and becoming a driver in the
industry. The better you know yourself, the easier it will be for
you to understand your capabilities and limitations. For instance,
key physiological components that could hinder your ability to
perform at a high level or accurately read the vehicle language are:
• Fatigue- lowers visual efficiency and causes longer reaction time.
• Faulty Hearing
• Inadequate Vision
• Medical Conditions
• Cardiovascular Conditions
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
TOUCH AND KINESTHETIC SENSE
Each of those listed above individually or collectively will
diminish your ability to be effective as a driver. You must make a
note of these and understand how they can and will affect your
ability to safely and efficiently drive your vehicle instinctively.
These are just the physiological aspects, when you then add in
the limiting psychological factors that come along with them,
well, as we have continuously said throughout this article, if you
fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail. As drivers, we must also
have our mindset dialed in, some of the negative contributing
factors are:
Attitude and Emotions (stress) can have a negative impact
on driving by:
• Diminishing the driver’s power of observation
• Delays or distorts ability to interpret events

• Reduces the power to assess and predict the actions of other drivers
• Produces faulty judgement and high risks decisions
• Reduces the driver’s ability to perform precisely timed skills
• Driving experience can have a psychological effect/impact
• Poor Driving record
• Lack of knowledge of good habits
• Taking chances
• Having an “at fault” accident on your record
• Having over confidence in your own ability
• Having High Risk Attitudes
• Impatience
• Self-Righteousness
• Preoccupation
• Ego
What I have listed above is within our control and we must take
ownership of everything we can in order to get us to our peak
performance levels. Over the years I have had the opportunity
to interact with many types of individuals and I have found that
the ones that recognize that they can always learn something
fair better than the ones that feel that they have been there
done that.
I will say that although they may have been there and done
that, rarely have they seen and done it all. There two things
in this world that can get you seriously hurt and killed in this
world. Complacency and your Ego will stunt your personal and
professional growth, write checks that your body cannot cash,
or worse someone else gets hurt or killed because you allowed
yourself to fall into this dangerous mind trap.
We saw complacency with Driver 2 in our scenario, a bad
attitude and wrong mindset for the mission. Realizing this is
key and then making the right decision, such as putting your
ego to the side and telling someone, that your head is not right.
You need to get over the stigma or the tough guy mentality. To
truly succeed and be on your top-level game, you have to realize
when you are off your game and seek the assistance to get you
back. The ones that can do that are the true professionals, as you
are putting the safety of others first before your ego.
You are also realizing that you are going through the motions
and are not present in that environment, you have to be alert,
focused, and above all, prepared!
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this
article; my goal is to at least get you thinking about what you
are doing now. Even if you are not a driver, what role are you in,
how do you prepare, what techniques do you consistently train
to stay in the fight. If you are not training, this should provoke
you to seek out training for any role, ensure it is applicable to
your role and is conducted by a reputable group. In this world
and industry, hope is not an operational plan! Prepare not just
your vehicle or weapon, also prepare your mindset so that when
evil knocks on the door you will be able to choose
right mindset and the right weapon!
Stay safe, stay prepared!
DANGEROUS DRIVING

pmcimagazine.com
OPTICS: VORTEX
LVPO: VORTEX GEN III RAZOR 1-10X24
THE AR-15 PLATFORM IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE MODERN COMBAT RIFLE PLATFORMS IN
THE WORLD FOR SHORT TO MEDIUM RANGES. WITH THAT COMES THE NEED FOR AN OPTIC THAT CAN EASILY
HANDLE BOTH CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT (CQB) AND MID-RANGE WORK WITH LITTLE TO NO DOWN TIME
IN ADJUSTING FIRE. SPEED ENGAGING A TARGET LIES SECOND ONLY TO THE ABILITY TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY
WHAT IS AND IS NOT A THREAT TO BEGIN WITH. IT IS IN THIS REALM OF COMBAT DISTANCE AND SPECIFIC
NEED IN WHICH THE LOW POWER VARIABLE OPTIC AKA LPVO REIGNS AS KING! - TS
While red dots are fast, they are limited
by which the naked eye can see. They
mostly lack proper reticles in which
distance, leads and hold overs may
be acquired. Additionally, the ability
to see specific details about the target
at mid-range distances is paramount.
While bulky precision optics can
quickly weigh down combat rifles and
limit mobility, the LPVO can still offer
a wide field of visibility up close and with the flick of a dial,
zoom in to provide the necessary details to determine if a
shot should be made. This visibility must be available in a
wide range of lighting situations to ensure pinpoint accurate shots.
Over the years, I have tried offerings from dozens of top
name brands in the LPVO category and in the Spring of 2015,
I finally went full time with the Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6x24
FFP on my “go to” AR-15 for training and teaching. The rocksolid,
compact construction along with the First Focal Plane
illuminated reticle allowed for fast handling and quick sight
acquisition. It quickly proved to be an optic I would have
confidently taken to any situation I faced during my days as a
SWAT operator.
With about a decade of hard use on my S&W M&P V-Tacs
edition AR-15, I decided in March of 2020 to build a new rifle
from the ground up with our Swanson Training Group theme. I
teamed up with some of the best names in the industry from
RISE Armament, BCM, Ballistic Advantage and cap it all off
with a special Cerakote finish from the wizard himself, Tucker
Doyon of Savage Cerakote. When the project was wrapped
up, it ran like a high-end performance machine. All it needed
then was quality glass that would handle the wide range of
distances and positions in which I teach students in our Urban
Rifle courses.
Fortunately, just two months prior to completion of the
project, Vortex Optics had announced the release of their
Gen III version of the well proven Razor LPVO while I was
attending SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas that January. As I read
online about the new 1-10x24 mm variant, I grew more
and more excited to give one a try. I reached out to Reuben
8

Aleckson over at Vortex Optics to request a sample to be sent
over as soon as possible. Immediately afterwards, I hopped
back online and ordered a new one-piece mount from my “go
to” place for mounts, American Defense Manufacturing (www.
admmfg.com ).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Less than a full week after my request was submitted, the new
Vortex LPVO arrived at my office. Three days later, the mount
finally arrived so I could begin to set everything up on the
rifle. As I worked in the shop, I inspected everything from Blue
Loctite on the screws to removing lint from the ocular lens. I
was impressed that despite being a 1-10x power optic, the Gen
III was still the same exact size and weight as my older Gen II
1-6X power scope.
Although Vortex kept the dimensions the same, the Gen III
variant was upgraded from a 30mm tube found in the Gen II to a
larger 34mm tube. This allows for greater internal adjustments.
The newer generation Razor offers a ¼ MOA adjustment
graduation to replace the previous ½ MOA spec. This change
allows for better fine tuning into targets at longer ranges during
set up to dial the reticle in.
The capped windage and elevation turrets protect your
rifle’s zero and leaves the reticle responsible for all “on the
fly” adjustments based on your DOPE (Data On Previous
Engagements). The illumination turret on the left-hand side is
not capped due to it being the one variable that will constantly
be adjusted for the ever-changing environment it will end up
in. Although uncapped, this turret locks into place by pushing
inward after adjustment.
For anyone who has either humped a rifle through the
elements or left it sitting on the shooting bench, you know
very well, something or someone is going to monkey with your
settings. Whether it’s a string of vines, underbrush branches
or simply the A**hole admiring your setup at the range by
ignorantly turning and twisting anything that will move, these
caps are there to protect your hard work put into zeroing the
rifle. While this optic does feature the L-Tec zero stop feature, it’s
still nice to keep things where you wish them to be without the
headache.
VORTEX GEN III RAZOR SPECS
Magnification 1-10x
Objective Lens Diameter
24 mm
Eye Relief
3.6 inches
Field of View
116-11.7 ft @100 yds
Tube Size
34 mm
Turret Style
Low Capped
Adjustment Graduation
1/4 MOA
Travel Per Rotation
25 MOA
Max Elevation Adjustment 120 MOA
Max Windage Adjustment 120 MOA
Parallax Setting
Fixed @150 yds
Length
10.1 inches
Weight
21.5 oz
MSRP
US$2,899
RANGE TIME
Once the optic was mounted on the new rifle project, I proceeded
to spend the rest of the year testing on indoor ranges in various
lighting conditions as well as outdoor ranges at distances of 5
yards out to 500 yards in the Florida heat, fall rains and even
OPTICS: VORTEX
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OPTICS: VORTEX
uncommonly cold 38 – 45 degree winter days while logging
data. I traveled from large private property to well-known
public ranges in Leesburg, St. Augustine and Jacksonville, FL
to gather information and let others shoot this rifle set up and
provide their cumulative thoughts for this article.
The optic features a very forgiving eye relief of 3 – 4 inches
and eye box to keep the reticle appearing centered despite
any offsetting gear that may keep the cheek weld off center.
This allows a wider range of shooters to get comfortable on
the same rifle with little to zero scope shadow. It should be
noted, the left turret is for illumination adjustments only
with no parallax adjustment. Although this is a 10x power
optic, Vortex designed the Gen III Razor as basically a
range enhanced red dot, NOT a sniper rifle. For the average
warfighter, some believe the concept of parallax amid battle
and constantly evolving data would only further complicate
things as a disadvantage rather than an intended advantage.
If parallax adjustment is that important to the shooter, Vortex
offers a wide range of other optics for that.
By simply pulling the turret outward, the illuminated
reticle is activated ON and OFF with every other brightness
adjustment through the 11 brightness settings. This allows
the optic to be quickly powered down and back up in the
previous brightness setting; pushing the dial back in locks the
selected setting in. Typically, due to the stiffness of the knob
to pull for adjustment, I usually leave it fully extended rather
than pull it out each time. (insert variant of “I don’t pull out”
reference here, see existence of my kids as proof!)
Even against dark backdrops, the basic outline of black
reticle alone stands out well at 1x power, just not as detailed
and easy to find as when the magnification is zoomed in a
bit more. With a twist of the illumination knob activates the
crisp illuminated red dot surrounded by four small rectangles
to life. The design of this illuminated portion of the reticle
reminds me of a Simon Says electronic game I had as a kid.
The center dot offers a pinpoint 1 MOA focal point, while the
four segmented sections deliver a 3 MOA interior circle and 4
MOA outer dimension for faster spot-on shooting.
LPVO manufacturers across the market have always been
challenged to create an optic with the daylight brightness of
a true red dot. In my opinion, Vortex has clearly succeeded.
The crystal-clear brightness settings and impressive life
span stemming from a single 2032 flat battery just bring a
whole new dimension to shooting with this optic. Even in
the bright Florida sunlight, the illuminated reticle is quickly
visible. (Fully bright day, 8 or 9 setting, low light, 3 or 4
setting) Over the past year, I have regularly run this rifle and
even accidently left the optic ON overnight. Twelve months
later, the reticle is just as bright as the day I unboxed it. The
optic ships with a 24 mm screw on sunshade for the objective
lens and works well against unwanted reflection issues during
times when you must shoot straight into the sunlight. I have
also used it several times during training while running the
rifle in rainy conditions. Kudos to Vortex for going the extra
mile!
Transitions with the wide field of view are extremely
fast from target to target laterally across the range as well
as distances moving further outward. With the flick of the
Switchview throw lever that ships with the Gen III Razor, I
could easily use the awesome EBR-9 MOA reticle that comes
into view as the variable power increases. Using the ballistic
data in the reticle, it can quickly be used to determine my
10

hold overs and increasingly see the targets more clearly. This
becomes even more evident when switching from 55 grain
ammunition at 1 – 300 yards over to 68 grain ammunition
when pushing from 400 to 600 yards. Knowing how each round
performs at specific distances empowers the shooter surgically
drive rounds onto target using the graduated reticle.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As with many great products, you get what you pay for and
the retail on the Razor Gen III 1-10x24 mm certainly sets the
bar high at US$2899 (found on www.opticsplanet.com currently
for US$1999) with another US$189 for a quality one-piece 34
mm mount. For most shooters like me, this quickly turns from
a discussion about a simple purchase to that of making an
investment in your training and your gear.
Question? Will spending over US$2000 in new glass and
mount make you a better shooter?
Hard Answer: The fact is NO, it will not. What it WILL DO is
give good shooters a great tool to be able to perform better with
proper training with its easy-to-use features and superior clarity
near and far. The first focal plane offers a consistent hold over
and scale in which to work with quickly and efficiently, while
the clear center red dot allows for fast acquisition with time is
measured in the span of a knee jerk reaction.
Over the past year, the Razor Gen III has not only proven
itself to be worthy of what the Razor models have come to
represent but, in many ways, I feel it has even managed to raise
the bar. The clarity, ease of use and performance have been
second to none while seamlessly increasing the range in which
it allows for operation. Despite some nay-sayers who are quick
to say this may be overkill for the AR15 platform, I will remind
them this is not just for the 5.56 caliber but the wide range of
variants within the platform from .300 BLK, 6.8 SPC and the
longer range 6.5 Grendel. For many variants of the AR10, I also
highly recommend this optic due to its robust construction and
10 x range.
I believe the Gen III 1-10x24 optic would be a great choice for
small unit teams, especially Law Enforcement patrol officers.
As a former SWAT sniper, let me say this, there is a far
greater need for well-trained patrol officers with LPVO equipped
AR-15 platform rifles than there are specialized marksman units
with thousands of dollars’ worth of custom-built sniper rifles
and large, 25x power optics. This is NOT to say there isn’t a need
for Law Enforcement snipers, but IF a small department budget
had to choose between outfitting and training one sniper unit
officer and rifle or a half dozen veteran patrol officers with LPVO
equipped AR rifles, I would advise the latter.
Think about the process in which a SWAT sniper becomes
involved in most situations. An incident is developing or currently
happening to which someone calls 911 for help. Depending on
the call, a patrol officer arrives on scene to assess the scene.
These officers are almost always the first to end up engaging
a situation. Due to many having limited resources of a pistol,
maybe a shotgun in the trunk or a simple red dot equipped AR
/ M4. Due to having limited visibility, basic rifle training and
lack of variable visibility, they find themselves ill equipped to
handle the situation and must call for SWAT and their sniper
unit. Time has been lost and situations may have gotten worse
during the interim. The trained patrol officer marksman easily
become a first response force multiplier vital to a special
purpose unit such as SWAT to either eliminate the threat prior
to their arrival or simply be able to give greater details on the
sitrep. If departments could not stretch the budget for the Gen
III Razor, I would absolutely advise them to highly consider the
Vortex Viper PST 1-6x24 option instead.
Overall, I firmly believe the day and age of the 10x Low
Power Variable Optic is here to stay. Just as its predecessor did
in 2015, the Razor Gen III 1-10x24 by Vortex Optics sets the
current LPVO standard in the industry. I highly recommend this
optic to professions and civilians alike who genuinely appreciate
quality glass, robust construction, and innovative design. This
optic is built like a tank and offers shooters a hard use optic that
can depend on with failure is simply not an option. To
learn more about the Gen III Razor and other Vortex
products from red dots to spotting scopes, visit www.
vortexoptics.com to select your next optic.
As always, Train Hard and Continue the Fight!
OPTICS: VORTEX
pmcimagazine.com

IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?
Once again I find myself in the hot seat as PMCI enters yet another
exciting year, and the challenges that face the team internationally
continue to be just that… challenging!
Whilst certain parts of the world are much freer when it comes
to the ongoing global pandemic, the UK/Euro members of the
team are still very much constrained by legal guidelines that tell
us exactly what we can do or not, and whilst all of us fall very
much into the “free-thinking, freedom-loving” category we also
understand that these restrictions are for the greater good of all.
Does that mean we are inactive? Of course it doesn’t, as
inactivity is anathema to us! Our entire ethos is about taking
individual responsibility for our own actions, of having a “drive
on” mentality that keeps us pushing forward when others might
begin to fade, and the current situation is just another challenge
for us to adapt to, and ultimately overcome!
It is true that our usual training regimes have undoubtedly
needed to adapt; where I write in the UK we have been in
“lockdown” it seems for ever and a day, but although I haven’t
been able to travel to one of the many ranges I shoot at in
“mainland Europe”, or indeed even to my usual Tuesday morning
at my local shooting club, my “6mm Training” has picked up pace
to ensure that my “muscle memory” doesn’t erode completely.
My little 10m “Short range” at home has never seen the use
it has done in recent months, and in many ways this has kept
me feeling good, and active, even in the hardest of times. I am
lucky that I’ve survived my personal battle with the “Big C”, and
even though I’m only in my mid-fifties I’ve already had my first
shot of the vaccine due to that, so the future beckons like a bright
new land, and I want to be on top of my game when that future
reopens fully!
EDITORS
COMMENT
It’s all too easy when times get tough to not bother with your
normal training routine, to think that because gyms and ranges
are closed that you can take your foot off the gas a little, but my
question stands, “if not now, then when?”
Now is the time that you need to engage your brain and do
some serious “headwork” to come up with solutions to how you
can train both mentally and physically; whilst I’ve continued
with my stretching, weight routine, long walks with the hound,
manipulations and short range drills I’ve also spent a lot of time
reading, hopefully re-learning some skills that I haven’t used for
a while, and also picking up a few new ones that I look forward
to putting into practice when things open up again.
There’s an old saying that goes “don’t put off ‘til tomorrow
what you can do today”, and now seems the perfect time to
abide by that. Don’t think about training, do it. Don’t sit and let
the “lockdown days” drift idly by, but prep your gear and learn
something new.
Trust me, when all this is Covid-stuff is a memory you’ll be glad
that you did something positive. Bring it on 2021!
EDITORS COMMENT

pmcimagazine.com
GEAR ON TEST
HELIKON-TEX GO TIGER!
Our friends over at Helikon-Tex in Poland have been
teasing us for a little while that they will have a “new”
camo pattern joining their extensive range, and finally
they’ve let us know the details, and we’re overjoyed
to see classic “Tigerstripe” appearing on a couple of
models of clothing to get the ball rolling!
Most people will have an immediate connection with the
family of Tigerstripe patterns due to its usage by Special
Forces, SEALs, the ASAS, NZSAS, and the Ranger Recon
teams in Vietnam, but in actual fact it was already in
military usage WAY before that! The Vietnamese Marine
Corps were already playing with the “VMX Experimental”
pattern in the late 1950’s which is thought to have had a
relationship with the French Indochina “Lizard” pattern,
using as it did a virtually identical stripe configuration.
The “VMX” in turn was developed into the first “official”
Tigerstripe pattern, the Vietnamese Marine Corps Sparse
or “VMS” which was issue from mid-1959 onwards!
But as much as “Tiger” is a much-loved and revered
historical pattern, it’s also one that is more than valid in
the right environments today, and if we’re honest it’s a
pattern that we dearly love! Whilst the pattern may not
be “current” to us that’s not really the point, as the two
models that Helikon-Tex have launched are the URBAN
TACTICAL SHORTS and the URBAN TACTICAL PANTS, clothing
designs that we’ve looked at before and rated very highly!
What makes the Urban Tactical Pants and Shorts so
special?
The cut and pockets layout employed in these pants
maintain civilian enough to wear every day, while retaining
full functionality of combat pants, capable of supporting
tactical essentials. Elastic Velcro-closed belt allows easy
adjustment. Wide belt loops allow as wide as 50 mm belt,
including all HTX tactical belts: EDC, UTL® or Cobras®.
Due to the clever layout of the pockets, equipment can
be placed close to your centre mass, around the hips and
waist. Front and rear pockets edges are reinforced to
withstand constant use of light or knife clips. Two Velcroclosed
front pockets are big enough to carry a smartphone
– or even an AR/AK rifle magazine! The thigh pockets look
flat, but thoughtful design allows pouches or wallets to
be carried with ease. Bespoke internal pockets on the
trousers allow fitting of Low Profile Protective Pads® if
you need them.
We’ve worn the Urban Tactical Pants on the range and
during training courses and they’re a great, hard-wearing
and super-comfortable model, as well as being extremely
durable and putting up with all manner of abuse! The
feature set is solid without being too much, and all the
pockets are usable in the very best way. We’ve not yet
tried the shorter design, but with summer just around the
corner these could be the very thing we need!
These are two very popular garments to get things
started with their “old is the new new” range of clothing,
and we sincerely hope that we’ll see more coming in this
pattern from Helikon-Tex, as it looks like they are most
definitely giving an old tiger some sharp, and cool-looking,
new teeth!
14

NEW JACKETS FROM SNUGPAK
As there is a slight glimmer of light appearing to show
our route out of global lockdown we hope that outdoor
training and range days can soon be thought of again,
and as the weather is still “variable”, warm, windproof
and water resistant outerwear is a must to keep you
protected, and if you’re acting as a trainer or RO then
it’s a positive necessity! What better to protect you
than one of Snugpak’s new jackets?
One jacket that we’ve REALLY been keeping back because it
is actually SO specialist is the SJ12 Reversible from our good
friends at Snugpak! The SJ12 is Snugpak’s warmest jacket
model, and one that in its standard fettle we’ve been very
thankful for on cold range days and training courses, and to
be honest it’s actually too warm if you’re doing much else
than standing still! The reversible model is obviously designed
for the likes of the Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre as one
side is the traditional Snugpak OD, whilst the other is pure,
snowy white! This is a UK-made insulated jacket, a technical
jacket suitable for extreme winter alpine conditions, so the
SJ12 is rated down to -20°C / -4°F and uses windproof and
weather-resistant Paratex Micro outer fabric, whilst inside the
exclusive-to-Snugpak Softie Premier insulation retains heat
and can even work when wet. Lightweight and packable,
with a stuff sack included, the SJ12 Reversible offers warmth,
comfort and protection from the weather whenever you need
it. If you’re planning a winter adventure or expedition, the
SJ12 reversible is an outer layer jacket that will keep you warm
and comfortable whatever conditions you may encounter!
We’ve worked with Snugpak a LOT over the years, and have
huge respect for what they create, and as their gear is used,
and much loved, by serving military personnel you can rely
on Snugpak to get the job done each and every time!
Based on Snugpak’s best selling ‘Sleeka Elite’ jacket, the
combination of the water-repellent Paratex outer material
and the exclusive Softie® 100% polyester insulation, Snugpak
has created a warm, breathable, windproof and lightweight
jacket which provides excellent protection from the elements
with a comfort rating of 0˚C. The Snugpak Arrowhead can
be worn either as a cold-weather mid-layer or outerlayer
garment and the brushed polyester lined neck warmer and
insulated zip-off detachable hood adds valuable additional
warmth, protection and versatility.
GEAR ON TEST
Other features include deep hand warmer style pockets,
internal zipped pocket, hook and loop adjustable cuffs and
handy zip pockets on the arm, chest. The jacket weighs 820g
and is supplied in a handy stuff sack with mesh bottom for
easy compact carrying. It is available in Olive, Black and
Multicam colour options in unisex sizes S to XXL and will be
in store in January.
pmcimagazine.com

GEAR ON TEST
ALTBERG BOOTS
As well as providing useful information from the
shooting and tactical communities Hutchy is very much
a user of gear, and knows what he likes and why, and
this time he lets us in on his go-to boot model from
UK bootmaker Altberg.
If you haven’t heard of Altberg in Richmond, North Yorkshire as
a boot manufacturer then you must’ve been hiding under a rock!
The old Richmond shoe factory closed in 1989, 320 people were
made redundant… it was a sad day. For the previous ten years
it had been constantly on the news that ’Globalisation’ was the
new way forward, and their type of ’low tech’ manufacturing
was considered to be no longer desirable in England. The owners
whole working life had been making shoes, and he had always
enjoyed ‘making things’… so that’s how in 1989 Altberg was
started, as a company is so passionate about their boots that it’s
a testament to craftsmanship.
Now the founder said when he was 70-years-old why he
wasn’t retiring, that he still hadn’t “made my best boot yet”,
and to me that shows something very special!
The boots have a particular Altberg design and various styles
such as the hot weather or cold weather boot, military style
etcetera but I think the key element is the fact that this is one
of the most established manufacturers in boots for over 30 years
and yet they’ve never employed to salesperson!
But they haven’t sat on the morals, always look to advancing
materials, they have always listened to their customers
constructive feedback to alter the length of the ankle and or
introduce quick drying materials, Gore-Tex, full waterproof seems,
but have never slipped on quality.
Altberg’s legendary Sneeker Microlite is possibly the most
lightweight, all leather military boot ever made. Developed in
1997 with input and help of serving soldiers based in Catterick
Garrison and other military bases around the UK, the input
from many of the NCO’s involved in training and developing the
skills and endurance of young recruits drove this development.
As bootmakers Altberg listened and tried to interpret their
requirements.
The requirement was for a leather boot that was shock
absorbing, lightweight with minimal moisture absorption, as
on many tasks it was inevitable that they would get wet inside,
so minimal weight gain when wet and fast drying were key
requirements. The Sneeker Microlite has a high unlined leg and
after more than 20 years it is still the first choice of many soldiers
for training and everyday use.
Altberg recently introduced a new last as well; this is a foot
mould/shape with a new design to help the heel grip and provide
enhanced comfort along with a new material that prevents
moisture retention further, which I have to say is ingenious! For
me though their ability to listen to all constructive criticism is
what makes Altberg my bootmaker of choice!
16

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

pmcimagazine.com
KIT: BOOTS
FOOTWEAR CHOICES
There are places where you can skimp and save a bit of money with your clothing and gear but, but
having good footwear is not one of them as this should be a as fundamental a part of your range and
training gear as your firearm! Choosing the wrong boots can make all the difference to having a superb
day on the range, or going home early; Bill looks at making the right choice irrelevant of your budget!
During the course of my professional life I’ve
been lucky enough to work directly with some
of the best bootmakers in the business, both in
relation to military/tactical models and those
for outdoor adventures; for both end uses the
requirements of the footwear will be broadly
similar, and mainly to do with comfort, support,
protection, and suitability for the intended
terrain.
Most good bootmakers will have a range of
models to cover every eventuality, from lightweight, quick
drying boots for jungle environments, sturdy boots with great
support for urban environments, and even thermal-lined
waterproof versions for the deepest of winter months. One of
the great things about how we train as civilians though is that
we’re unlikely to be wearing our boots for more than a few
hours straight on the range. Does this however mean you can
save a few bucks by buying into cheap boots?
My answer to this would be an unequivocal and resounding
“NO”, as not looking after your feet, or wearing badly fitting
boots can have severe ramifications. Ask yourself for a moment,
is for instance a boot designed for the deserts of the Middle
East going to be the ideal model for the depths of winter? You
may say “well, my desert boots are Gore-Tex lined so they’re
waterproof, and I’m only wearing them for a short while so
they’ll be fine”, but are you analysing this closely enough?
A good desert boot will inherently be made with less
insulation than a winter, or indeed even a temperate model,
so as much as a good waterproof technology will keep your
feet dry the boot overall will leave you with cold feet, or
worse, on a snowy morning. Cuff height may also differ, as in
general a winter boot will have a higher cuff to keep out snow
and spindrift; I was once in a situation where I stepped into a
water-filled pothole deeper than the height of my desert boot
cuff, and although they’re membrane-lined water does tend to
get in through the big hole on the top where your foot goes in.
So why not just wear willies or gumboots? Well, two things
here really; firstly wellies are pretty much always not going to
be breathable, so although they will keep water out, and with
specialist socks be warm, but they will also keep moisture in;
someone once told me that we have more than 250,000 sweat
glands in each foot, making them the most perspiring parts
18

of your body. Your body can produce as much as a pint of sweat
per day per foot, and if you’re wearing wellies most of that will
stay inside the boot! Secondly most basic wellies offer very little
support.
You’ve also got to build into this equation that boot
manufacturers make different outsole units for different conditions;
this may not on the face of it be a major concern, but if the tread
pattern of the outsole has been designed for warm, dry conditions
how will it fare in wet grass or on wet-leaf covered concrete? Let
me tell you… not very well at all, and you’re seriously asking for
a slip which could lead to a turned ankle or worse.
WHAT MAKES A “GOOD TO GO” BOOT
In our “Hi-Speed, Lo-Drag” world, one of the most important
things is your equipment, especially a good pair of boots. Boots
for professionals need to stand up to wear for extended periods of
time; although we as airsofters don’t particularly need this level
of performance, having it is an absolute plus. When choosing a
tactical boot, look for a style with superior support, lightweight and
durable construction, comfort, and protection from the elements
and rough terrain.
A good boot for training will also provide heightened traction
in any tactical/range situation that you may face. The height,
midsole, outsole, heel, and structure of the boot factor into its
support level too. Ideal tactical boot components include a 6 to
8 inch height and a heavy-duty, yet flexible and lightweight sole
to provide traction and grip both in and out of the woods. A good
fit that doesn’t sacrifice comfort is crucial in choosing your boots.
The use of EVA foam materials guarantees lightweight, cushioned
support in the midsole of your boots.
The best tactical boots are easy to put on and take off at the end
of the day. Many boots on the market feature fragile side zippers
or complex lace-up closures, potential points of failure that are
sensible to avoid. A good boot will feature a simple combination
of eyelets and D-rings in the closure system, which allows for a
personalised fit just by adjusting the lacing pressures.
Flexible and lightweight material construction is an essential
component of a good tactical boot, specifically to protect you
from the weather. A waterproof exterior or membrane is a crucial
boot feature to keep you protected from the elements. By using
breathable technologies waterproof boots prevent moisture
from building up and potentially forming harmful bacteria and
blisters, but also allow for perspiration to get out. For even greater
protection in the winter months, look for boots that are both
waterproof and insulated. Insulated linings keep warmth inside the
boot so that you can stay comfortable and protected during cold
weather games. We may all face a range of weather conditions
on any site through the year, so don’t let your boots hold you back
from getting outside to train and enjoy the environment!
When you talk about style and comfort, you should think
about only good quality boots, as they are manufactured taking
into account the best type of materials, construction, padding,
cushioning and inner soles. Such boots provide great cushioning
and support to your feet as well as avoiding any foot pain and
discomfort that arises due to longevity of wearing; your best friend
is a good quality tactical boot that provides you the best possible
safety, comfort, durability, and flexibility over uneven and rough
surfaces. Such boots are obviously made from the top quality
materials that offer high performance and long-time comfort and
safety for your feet.
To illustrate what I’m talking about, let’s look at some models
that I use personally in more depth.
KIT: BOOTS

pmcimagazine.com
KIT: BOOTS
LOWA ZEPHYR GTX
A few years back I found myself coming out of the winter
months, looking forward to a spring without a pair of
lightweight boots in the gear pile for general use. The thought
of having to break in a new pair always fills me with dread as
well, so I was extremely careful in my search for a new pair.
One model of boot that I found myself returning to time
and again was the Zephyr from Lowa; I’d been using their
full leather Mountain Boot for a while and it had performed,
and continues to perform, exceptionally well. Having become
something of a Lowa “fanboy” I decided that the Zephyr GTX
could well be the replacement I was looking for, and since
I got my very first pair they’ve proved to be excellent and
have become a “fave” not just with me, but with a lot of
professional users!
As part of Lowa’s Task Force range
these boots are highly rated by
both UK and US SF alike as a
tactical lightweight desert
boot. The Zephyr GTX fulfils
the requirement for those
operating in a lightweight
role who require a Gore
Tex lining.
They feature a slip lasted construction with an injected Lowa
“Cross” sole; more of that in a bit. The upper is a clever
combination of suede leather (1.4 - 1.6 mm) and Cordura, and
a full Gore Tex VISION 3LY inner lining ensures waterproofness.
They weigh in at a meagre 1120g per pair, with a very
supportive mid height cuff; the foot is held firmly in place
courtesy of closed hook lacing.
The Zephyr also features Lowa’s innovative MONOWRAP®
2 sole unit construction with a firm 7/8 TPU stabilizer is the
most stable and offers optimal traction and perfect support
with its high-quality surface materials. The system features a
PU heel stabiliser, a PU-Frame, an additional plastic stabiliser
and the “Cross” outsole. The plastic stabiliser element features
in all Lowa multi-functional footwear, improving ankle and
joint stability and torsional rigidity.
I’ve continued to wear them on an almost daily basis, and
have now subjected them to some pretty foul conditions; in all
situations other than full, snow on the ground winter they have
performed admirably. The Lowa Zephyr GTX is now available in
a number of different colours for use with UK MTP or multicam
types of uniform and clothing, but I have to say that given the
sporty look of them in black/grey they look pretty sharp with
a pair of cargos or even jeans too; expect to pay iro £130 for
a pair from www.lowa.co.uk or most good stockists.
Beloved of units like the US Rangers, Merrell boots from
their outdoor line are certainly worth a look if you’re running
a “tactical athlete” set of range gear, and a trip to my local
outdoor pursuits store showed me that Merrell definitely still
have what it takes! I recently invested in a pair of ACCENTOR
GORE-TEX MIDS for summer and indoor wear and they look the
absolute business if you’re running fast and light.
With a waterproof inner to keep your feet dry and
comfortable, the body has been designed so that water can’t
get in, but moisture vapour can escape through the billions
of pores in the Gore-Tex membrane. In addition, an Aegis
antimicrobial, odour-fighting treatment keeps your feet fresh
for longer. Humidity isn’t a problem in these breathable
boots either, as a membrane keeps your feet dry and a large
bellows tongue keeps debris away from the foot. When you
encounter slippery patches after rainfall, you’ll be thankful for
two features, a mid-length cut that adds ankle support, and
a durable rubber outsole for better grip. For more on these
super-light yet supportive boots please check out www.merrell.com.
My “EDC” boots of choice are the SHOCK FX from Bates;
with a really cool outdoors look and a “mid-cut” cuff these
are cracking looking boots, and come in three colourways to
complement different uniform requirements, but in each case
it would look just as good on a mountain trail or just out and
about. I think that this will be a real winner as it most definitely
sits in the “tacticool athlete” category, and having a waterproof
and breathable membrane inside means it will perform in
most weathers too. As well as benefitting from the Bates
EPS system the SHOCK FX benefits from waterproof full grain
leather and performance nylon upper with protective panels, a
breathable waterproof membrane with moisture wicking lining
to keep your feet dry, mesh tongue for added breathability,
Bates anti-fatigue Endurance Performance System providing
you all day comfort and flexibility. A multi terrain slip resistant
rubber lug outsole, and a “Cement” construction providing you
a lightweight and flexible platform. I wear these boots day in,
day out whatever the weather, and they’ve become trusted
partners for all my outdoor adventures come rain or shine; you
can check them out online, or by visiting https://tactree.co.uk
which is where mine came from.
As I mentioned earlier, last but by no means least are my
“winter specials”, otherwise known as LOWA MOUNTIAN BOOTS!
If you were to visit any army barracks in the UK I guarantee
that you would find a high number of guys wearing LOWAs and
one of the most sought after models has been the Mountain
Boot to wear along with their MTP uniform. I’ve put a good
number of miles under the soles of my LOWAs during the past
few winters, and at no time did they feel anything other than
sturdy and solid; the Vibram “Tsavo” sole unit has provided
stability even on the worst days with a nice high cuff giving
excellent support around the ankle.
The boots are made 2.4/2.4mm full grain leather which has
moulded well to my foot and the Gore Tex Duracom inner has
meant that my feet have stayed 100% dry even in deep, soft
snow or extreme wet weather. Open hook lacing means that
you can set up the fit of the boot just as you like it, and once
you’ve found your “fit” then everything stays locked down and
in place; the foot is anchored solidly in place with no movement
or “sloppiness” that will cause blisters. The boots are available
in UK 3 – 15 including half sizes. Overall this is one heck of a
boot and I can see now why it has become the choice of the
professional user. Whilst our lives may not depend on it, this
is a fabulously well-made European boot, put together with
the very best of everything.
20

MAX PERFORMANCE!
I’ve chosen the boots here not because they are the cheapest out
there but because in my opinion they offer great value for money,
and between them will have you covered all year round other than
in mountainous areas in full winter and all will provide maximum
performance for your money; for “true winter” you’ll need a more
specialist mountain boot that is crampon compatible, and that’s a
whole other ballgame!
Now do bear in mind that these boot models fit my particular
foot-shape well and may not be so ideal for you, but I hope I’ve
given you an idea what to look for when you come to buy; when it
comes to buying boots go to a specialist tactical boot fitter, or the
top outdoor shops and outfitters will be able to offer a very good
service in relation to precise fitting when it comes to the civilian
models. If you’re after a dedicated military model then your local
tactical store is the place to go.
Buy right, buy once even if you are “Daddy Bigbucks”, and if
you’re usually broke like most shooters I know (including myself!)
then getting it right first time is a bonus!

pmcimagazine.com
KIT: CHEST RIGS
22
CHOOSING A CHEST RIG
Whilst the current trend is for the majority to be wearing some form of plate carrier to train, Bill
takes an “Old Skool” step back to look at chest rigs, be they canvas concoctions or thoroughly
modern marvels of hi-tech nylon, and puts forward a case that this is a piece of gear that suits
every need when it comes to load bearing!
In my opinion a decent chest rig (indeed more than one!)
should have permanent residence in any self-respecting
personal gear locker as I genuinely believe it’s one of
the most useful bits of kit you’ll ever own! A chest rig
will fulfil all that you need in terms of load carriage or
simple gear-hauling; there really is a model that will suit
both your budget.
Whilst it is currently popular to lug around a darn great
plate carrier (even including plates if you’re “doing it
right”!), and I’m as guilty as the next man for doing this, I’ve
personally always been a huge fan of chest rigs; even if you’re in
a situation where you need to use body armour (dubious really
in a training scenario if you think about, unless it’s for “tacticool”
points or that you really do wear one regularly for “work”) then
a rig will allow you dump a lot of extraneous weight quickly
and easily whilst keeping your plates in place. Over the years
I’ve had numerous chest rigs as I find them comfortable to wear,
and very easy to work with if the design is right; all of mine
have served me very well indeed, and I will admit to having
a bit of a collection of different models that I’ve built up over
the years. My first ARKTIS rig is now well beyond the point of
saving, and I’ve had rigs to try from some of the best companies
in Europe and the USA, and frankly, I love ‘em all!
I’ve long been a fan of the US brand Tactical Assault Gear
(TAG) which was set up by prior service USN SEAL Chris Osman,
and one model to me still shows how “the rig” updated itself
for what we need today; TAG were right in the game from
the very beginnings of the “modern chest rig”, and as one of
the first nylon gear companies to take up the then-new ATACS
patterns they’ve got lots of experience working with different
fabrics. Their gear has ALWAYS been really top notch, and the
combination of a Phalanx Chest Rig and Combat Sustainment
Pack has given me more than enough space to carry both a
fighting load for my primary and a sustainment/survival load
comfortably, and although they’ve been with me for quite some
time, both items are still going strong.
I believe all of the above actually says a lot about how
things have fundamentally changed; when I first started out
most guys I knew used some form of belt-mounted load bearing
gear, usually old military pattern as it was cheap and easily
available. If, in those days, you wanted to look all “operator” (I
don’t think that phrase even existed back then…) then you’d go

for a chest rig over your smock, in the UK usually a Webtex model,
but if you were properly “into things”, then an ARKTIS.
I was all set as I already had a classic ARKTIS rig that I’d bought
from a Royal Marine, but in the years that followed the ante
was upped as folk started appearing with rigs from the likes of
BLACKHAWK! And then more esoteric models like the original LBT
models. Movies like “Blackhawk Down” showed DELTA wearing
BLACKHAWK! .223 Chest Rigs over PT body armour and sent things
in a new direction, and soon the stores were awash with the
setups that would become “Slicks” with the load bearing element
worn separately to the armour carrier.
But even then the chest rig was nothing new! Many will rattle
on about the Rhodesians being the “daddy” of the tactical chest
the Delta where such equipment kept magazines and ammunition
clearer of the muck…
PICKING A STYLE
Suffice to say that the chest rig has been around in one form or
another for some considerable time, and the choice of styles and
load carrying options are now considerable. In my mind though
you can break it down into three distinct areas;
“Range Rigs”
Chest rigs are really having a comeback moment when it comes
to “training”; in the real world a “training rig” harks back to that
DELTA setup where you wear it over, and in addition to, a low
volume body armour vest (LVBAV) as it’s easy to get on and off
when you’re on the range. An example here would be the Haley
DC3 family or the Direct Action Hurricane Hybrid.
rig story, but in reality the “rig” has been somewhat of a staple
throughout military history, often being worn by specialist units,
or at the very least those that could be classed unconventional. If
you look way back at pictures of pirates and Royal Navy Boarding
Parties you’ll quite regularly see multiple black-powder one-shot
pistols and numerous knives being carried across the chest, and of
course the humble canvas/webbing rifle bandolier was also often
worn “crosswise” to aid in accessing ammunition! WWI and II gives
us images of bandoliers being worn across the chest by both allied
and axis troops (the USMC even had the M1918 grenade vest!),
and when you get into Vietnam an “in country chest rig” was fairly
common practice, and it wasn’t just bandoliers that were used!
This was the heyday of the “ChiCom” rig for the Type 56/
AK47 rifle, and once folk cottoned on to how useful this bit of
kit was certain units soon started using them too! Not only the
“ChiCom” was used, but also the rig for the SKS rifle as 20 round
magazines for the M16A1 fitted this perfectly! Soon certain units
were fabricating their own “home-grown” rigs designed for the
longer 30 round magazines, and the USN SEALs in particular were
great fans of this style, often operating in the chest deep waters of
The “Recon Rig”
The first style is one that I’m very fond of, and this will include
the original “ChiCom”, in that the rig is designed to carry spare
magazines and very little else. Often used in conjunction with
a patrol pack “the recon rig” gives you immediate access to
ammunition that could be restricted in a conventional belt position
by the straps/belt of your pack. Although the “ChiCom” is the
best example here more up-to-date designs are available from
numerous manufacturers, and I have a couple of super split-front
versions from US brands “Head On Tactical” and “Whiskey Two Four”.
“Fighting Rigs”
Upping the load carrying aspect of the rig, the “Fighting” version
takes its lead from the “recon and training” and then adds
additional storage; a great example of this is the original ARKTIS,
the LBT 1961, or coming up to date the Helikon-Tex Guardian and
the Direct Action Thunderbolt. In this category I’ll also include the
multitude of MOLLE platforms that can be configured to your liking.
LIGHT IS RIGHT!
If you prefer to run “Light is Right” then a chest rig of some
description is going to fit the bill perfectly; chest rigs are minimalist
and lightweight, don’t overly restrict movement, and allow you
to carry a good load of magazines. The Competition Multigun Rig
platform from Helikon-Tex is one that I’ve been using a lot recently,
one of the “keystones” of their new system and is made of hardwearing
Cordura 500D and is compatible with magazine inserts
dependant of your chosen primary platform; there are two front
utility pockets, two pistol mag pouches on the front and it’s MOLLE/
PALS compatible. You also get a stable and adjustable H-Harness
system, loops for hanging gloves and placing accessories,
and the rear is part-lined with velour for comfort and moisture
management. I’ve been wearing this rig for range sessions for a
while now, and not only is it super-versatile between platforms,
but also fits so snugly you almost forget you’re wearing it until you
need to “bomb up”!
Going just a little heavier, the OneTigris Vulture still follows the
“Light is Right” design concept, and is a minimalist model that’s
just perfect for your regular range sessions or short skirmishes,
and priced at around US$60 it’s not going to break the bank either!
Now you might think that for 60 bucks you would end up with
something that’s not going to last, but this rig is a bit special.
Currently available in 500D Cordura Nylon Multicam fabric (I hope
that they’ll do other plain colourways in due course) the Vulture
KIT: CHEST RIGS
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KIT: CHEST RIGS
benefits from solid construction throughout, along with genuine
UTX Buckles and YKK Zippers; the price might be keen, but the
components and build quality are great. There are four magazine
pockets that will hold the majority of AR or AK-style magazines,
along with two flapped pistol magazine/tool/flashlight pockets
and a generous zipped admin pocket on the front; the admin
pocket features a velcro patch for unit/names tapes, along with
two further rows of MOLLE webbing for additional items should
you desire to fit them. The main body of the rig has a full-width
breathable mesh backer which is very comfortable, and the
whole thing is topped off with a simple unpadded X-harness, a
style I personally prefer as it doesn’t catch up as easily on lo-pro
body armour if you’re wearing it.
be adjusted (think STANAG v AK), and exchangeable magazine/
handgun inserts can be rearranged swiftly and easily.
The Guardian has a universal, removable and adjustable X-
or H-harness, channels on straps for wiring, antenna, hydration
tubes, exchangeable inserts (included), double pistol magazine
pouches, double rifle/carbine (AR/AK) magazine pouches and
three fixed double rifle/carbine magazine pouches(AK/AR). There
are height-adjustable magazine pouch flaps, two spacious cargo
pockets (USGI canteen compatible) and multiple PALS/MOLLE
panels for additional pouches / accessories. All in all it’s a well
thought out bit of kit, and the bonus is that the lightly padded
shoulder harness actually makes it comfortable for extended
periods!
The Tasmanian Tiger Chest Rig MK II PC is another fave of
mine; this is a real quality chest rig made in 500D Cordura,
and it comes with four integrated magazine pouches and two
utility pouches, and on top of that you can of course attach an
infinite number of additional MOLLE compatible pouches to meet
your own personal requirements. The four integrated magazine
pouches with adjustable velcro flaps, can hold the majority of
magazines currently in use (I use mine mostly with my “.308”
AR magazines) although STANAG mags can wobble a little, and
the two utility pouches on the sides can each handle a one litre
water bottle. The rig is designed with the option to carry ballistic
side plates and is covered with MOLLE webbing for attaching extra
pouches; Tasmanian Tiger offer an extensive range of different
pouches to go with the rig. There’s a large map pouch on the
inside, a removable bib with a small document pouch on the
inside, and the whole thing is lined with 3D mesh. The H-style
shoulder straps feature quick release buckles on both ends, and
there’s a generous amount of adjustment in both height and
width.
LOADING FOR BEAR
The Helikon-Tex HTX Lines Project was created in 2016 as a whole
new concept of product development within the company and
they’ve been slowly but surely rolling it out since then. Initial
concepts were turned into pre-production samples, the final
versions of which are now available in stores worldwide. Their
assets are the right people combining to create one of the
most innovative design teams in the industry. The Guardian
Chest Rig is a universal carry platform built to accommodate a
basic ammunition load and personal equipment. Designed to
work along with a backpack and belt kit, it can optimise the
configuration of your “shoot gear”. Depending on the number
and size of magazines the height of the fixed pouch flaps can
My “go to” though is the Hurricane from the guys at Direct
Action in Poland; so what makes the Hurricane so desirable in my
eyes? Simply put it’s a low profile, adjustable rig made from lasercut
laminated 500D Cordura so it’s tough enough to endure an
awful lot of abuse. It has a softshell interior construction that makes
it a comfortable rig to wear for extended periods of time.
24

The harness is well constructed and feels sturdy even when the
rig is loaded up and it has a reinforced drag handle incorporated
into the design, along with the ability to be attached to one of the
Direct Action Body Armour systems. The “Hurricane” has nine PALS
slots on the sides of the rig which are perfect for radio, medical,
utility pockets and horizontal PALS slots under the ammo pouches
for items such as tourniquets, pistol mag pouches and 40mm
pouches so you aren’t just limited to the pouches on the rig itself
should you wish to upgrade it. If you choose to run comms, the
fixed pouches are a great size for most PRRs and the rig has routing
channels to keep everything tidy and to prevent wires getting
caught.
Not only is it comfortable and solidly put together but it comes
as standard with integrated, adjustable magazine pouches with
paracord retention that adjust to fit a combination of eight AR, four
AK, or even four 7.62mm magazines. It also features a number of
fixed external pouches for other essentials including two adjustable
pouches, a sealed zipper pouch and a Velcro flap pouch for when
you need to access items quickly. The harness is completely
adjustable thanks to a secure harness design, and to keep the
excess material tidy it has Velcro wraparound “tidys”. It has a split
front- zipper design as well so you don’t need to adjust it every
time you remove it which is very neat indeed. The Hurricane is
available in Adaptive (foliage/ranger) Green, Black, Coyote Brown,
MultiCam, Pencott Badlands, Pencott Greenzone and Urban Grey so
there is a camo option for every environment. At €239 this isn’t
the cheapest model of chest rig on the market by a long shot, but
if you’re after excellent design along with superlative fabrics and
workmanship then it’s really a bit of kit that you should seriously
consider parting with cash for!
This is a broad overview, but in essence boils the designs down to their
essence. Super-light and basic, light yet versatile, and then full-on “I’m
out for a rumble” style; basically the choice is yours!
I’ve listed a few of my personal favourites to
give an idea of what you can be looking for if you’re
in the market from your own rig, but as always be
sure to “try before you buy” to make sure you get
the one that fits right, and suits your style and needs
best.
KIT: CHEST RIGS

GALATI .50 BMG WEAPONS CASE
TO COMPETE OR NOT
This time our good friend Paul Hutchinson, founder of ARG Associated Risks Group based in the
UK, joins us to look at some considerations in answering the question as to whether completion
shooting benefits you in the more tactical role. Paul is a former Police Officer and Firearms
Instructor and has worked with some of the world’s elite forces; he also still works as a Security
Consultant so we firmly believe that his advice will help you to discover current “best practice”.
Over the years I’ve listened to many people argue
over the use of Practical Pistol competition
shooting training techniques in the real world of
firearms training. I have to say if we can’t take
the experience from the practical circuit and then
use those basic skills in real-world, something is
wrong.
Think of it like this, when you pick up a 1911 or a
new gen Glock 17, they are both different pistols
from different era’s. The reality of it is the way in which we
engage the target, stance, grip and the sight picture we use, are
the same. The way in which we manipulate the trigger has not
changed. Some pistols have changed a little but not the way we
use them (exceptions to red dot sights etc, as generally most of
us are issued with factory weapons)
The fundamental basics have never changed and Practical
Pistol looks at how they can use those basics, combined
with economy of movement, accuracy and speed to get the
fastest time. Can we take a lesson or two? Can we learn from
continuous progression mastering the art? Yes, we can.
Whenever I get on a range and I haven’t fired for some time, I
like to go for my fastest, most accurate shots cold! No warm up,
no practice....! I like to see where I am, my ability.
Because this cold shooting is a reflection on how I will be on
the day of the race.
Then the better I am in practice, when it comes to a real
world contact and I’m under the adrenaline rush, tunnel vision,
auditory loss and everything else that we experience, means
that a millisecond better and an inch more accurate might
be the difference between success and failure, life or death!
Anyone in any sport at the top of their game will tell you the
same thing, that the basics and practising the basics is the key
to being successful.
Now my gripe is there is always someone trying to come
up with a new “Gucci” way to shoot, the introduction of some
YouTubers and glossy magazines and everything else in the
world in which we consume everything and spend billions of £$.
This means that marketing campaigns and product placements
are there to make you believe that this new fantastic bit of kit
is gonna make you shoot better.
Well, no... Training will help you shoot better. The kit and
equipment will help you maintain, carry, secure and conceal
your firearm. That said some kit does give you a degree of
confidence in knowing it’s a great bit of kit. But, I don’t know
any piece of kit that can grip, draw, obtain a sight picture and
manipulate the trigger squeeze. That bit is up to you.
Stay safe.
26

www.arg.uk.com

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KNIVES: SOG PILLAR
SOG PILLAR - BY JIM WENZEL
Many gun people consider the edged weapon an obvious substitute for a firearm when a concealed
handgun can’t be carried due to restrictions or other limitations. The concept of being armed usually
revolves around having a firearm on your person. Those of us that commit to carrying a handgun on a
daily basis realize that it is the best tool available for self-defence against a lethal threat that can be
concealed on the body. For most in the gun community, anything short of a firearm is a poor compromise.
The most commonly discussed compromise
however, is an edged weapon. It is very
common for gun carriers to also carry an
edged weapon every day and for a good
reason. There is a great deal of misconception
related to the use of an edged weapon in selfdefence,
and those who do indeed factor the
edged weapon into their self-defence plan
should think it through.
The edged weapon is an absolutely vital part of daily carry,
and I say that with a strong conviction that if you don’t carry
a blade, you are not prepared for the dangers of this world.
You are more likely to encounter a cutting task such as
cutting something like a seatbelt to render aid to someone
rather than the likelihood that you are to face the need
to use an edged weapon to fend off an attacker. I am an
absolute proponent of carrying an edged weapon as a must
have in case the need arises.
I can tell you that the single most critical component of
an edged weapon’s capability is missed by most: The ability
to deploy the edged weapon quickly. If you are going to rely
on an edged weapon for self-defence in any capacity the
first priority you should set for yourself is the ability to get
the knife out quickly.
As you might imagine, this is exponentially more difficult
with a folding knife than a fixed blade, and it requires a
significant amount of training and practice, which takes to
the SOG Pillar. This fixed blade edged weapon is designed to
meet and exceed the needs of the end user. It’s practical yet
tactical and has the ability to be easily concealed and rapidly
deployed for any situation that you may find yourself in.
ABOUT THE MAKER
SOG became the vision of a young designer by the name
of Spencer Frazer, who in his apartment back in 1986 after
seeing members of a highly classified US special ops unit,–
known as MACV-SOG,- carrying a unique combat knife into
the jungle on covert missions.
Frazer has said that it was started with a simple mission:
to create innovative products that stand apart from the
pack and then what began as a single knife tribute of the
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SOG Bowie for the special operations groups quickly turned into
a full innovative line of tools that are highly regarded by Law
enforcement specialists, military, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts,
industrial professionals, and every day carry knife enthusiasts.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Coming from a military and law enforcement background, I
have carried many varieties of knives and I currently carry a SOG
Escape Knife with Seatbelt Cutter and Tungsten Glass Breaker as
part of my EDC. So, when I was asked to take a look at the Pillar,
I was eager and excited to see how it would perform.
The Pillar came in a nice and sturdy SOG presentation box.
Once I opened it, I was immediately drawn to the look and design
of this knife. For a general purpose knife, it just looked solid. The
Pillar is a fixed blade with a full tang, straight edge, and a clip
point, when I picked it up it felt great in my hand and I quickly
noticed the weight, coming in at a little over 7 ounces, it wasn’t
too heavy or bulky. It is a well-balanced design and one that you
can tell was built for the long haul. The Pillar comes with a Kydex
sheath that is adjustable, low-profile, and has a locking mount.
Before I started any testing, I wanted to take a look at the
blade steel type and blade hardness. The Pillar is made out of
S35VN steel which is designed to hold up to long term use with
little diminishment of quality. S35VN is still a relatively new steel
that was developed in 2009 as Crucible Industries’ attempt to
improve on their previous top steel. S35VN steel is created using
Crucible Particle Metal (CPM) technology, which evenly distributes
carbides (the hard particles) in the blade, allowing the blade to
retain a sharp and durable edge.
S35VN steel uses a finer grain structure than S30V and also
includes small amounts of niobium (denoted by the “N” in
S35VN). Niobium (Nb) is often used to enhance the strength
of metals, which makes it ideal for products where strength is
critical, such as rocket engines, jets and gas pipelines. S35VN’s
rebalanced chemistry contributes to its improved sharpening
ability and makes it more resistant to chipping. The finished
S35VN steel is made of 1.4% carbon, 14% chromium, 3%
vanadium, 2% molybdenum and 0.5% niobium. The S35VN steel
has really caught my attention as it’s 145% better than 440C
when measured against the sharpness scale.
The vanadium in the alloy works to create a fine grain structure
that helps hold an edge. Niobium is even better than vanadium
at keeping grain sizes small, so its addition to the alloy helps
increase edge retention without giving up toughness or wear
resistance. The addition of molybdenum increases the material’s
strength to properly hold the edge.
Now onto the hardness of the blade, the Rockwell scale was
co-created by Hugh and Stanley Rockwell in the early 20th century
KNIVES: SOG PILLAR
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KNIVES: SOG PILLAR
to test the hardness of different materials. There are several
different scales by which a material’s hardness is measured
on, but blade steels are measured on the C scale. (HRC means
Hardness on Rockwell scale C.) A low HRC number means the
steel is softer and a higher number means it’s harder.
So let’s take a look at the Pillar using this scale, the company
specifications state that the Pillar is a 59-61 on the HRC. On the
Rockwell Hardness scale, CPM S35VN rates 58-61 HRC, which
tells us that the Pillar is right on the mark with this steel for
optimal temperament and use.
The canvas micarta handle is designed to fit the hand very
comfortably and the slightly textured grip gives it a nice feel
and sense of control while holding it in either hand. The blade
has a nice sharp straight edge that can be a rare find when
taking a knife straight out of the box and putting it to work.
SOG PILLAR SPECS
• USE: General Purpose
• PRODUCT TYPE Fixed Blade
• BLADE LENGTH 5.0 in
• CUTTING EDGE 4.25 in
• HANDLE LENGTH 4.92 in
• OVERALL LENGTH 9.9 in
• BLADE THICKNESS 0.16 in
• HANDLE THICKNESS 0.65 in
• WEIGHT 7.3 oz
• FINISH Stone Wash with Machine Ground Edge
• EDGE TYPE Straight
• BLADE STEEL TYPE S35VN
• BLADE HARDNESS 59-61 HRC
• BLADE SHAPE Clip Point
• BLADE GRIND Flat
• SPINE TYPE Straight
• HANDLE MATERIAL Canvas Micarta
• HANDLE COLOR Black
• SHEATH INCLUDED Yes
• SHEATH COLOR Black
• SHEATH ATTACHMENT TYPE Adjustable Low-Profile, Locking
Mount
• SHEATH MATERIAL Kydex
• MSRP $189.95
TIME WITH THE BLADE
Over the past few months, I have carried the Pillar as an
EDC. I carried it in several positions to check comfort and
accessibility.
I found the low profile sheath to be very comfortable on
the hip even with this medium sized, heavy duty type of
blade.
After a few weeks of carrying it, I decided that I liked
30

carrying it inverted and just to the rear of the hip. I found this to
be the most comfortable and allowed me to easily draw the blade
from a concealed manner with little overt movement. I’ll have a
picture showing this attached to the article, this position gave me
a nice sturdy grip and a smooth draw.
This is my first article knife review, so I sat and thought of
how others would be using this blade, such as environmental
factors, field uses etc. To test the blade’s sharpness, I went out
to the wooded trail behind my residence and started using it to
shave bark off several types of trees ranging from soft to hard
woods. I did this to emulate finding what one would need to set
up camp to make a fire, and make a shelter. I found this blade to
be exceptional in its performance, as it was able to shave each
type with minimal effort. I also used the clip point to work on
hollowing out a piece of wood in which the tip kept its shape
and sharpness. There wasn’t any chipping and rolling that I could
see or feel. After this test, I then tested the edge retention by
slicing a piece of 8x11.5 inch printer paper, the Pillar performed
exceptionally well.
To account for some environmental factors, I added liquid soap
and water to the handle to help give the feel of a blood soaked
blade and handle that one could experience from using this blade
to cut several types of game ranging from fowl to deer as well as
inclement weather such as heavy rain. I wanted to see how the
textured handle would perform. The Pillar also has a nice serrated
part on the spine that is at the top portion of the handle, I found
this as well as the textured grip to perform extremely well. The
blade stayed tight in the hand with little to no slippage while
performing tasks; using my thumb on the serrated spine while
conducting cutting movements worked very well, as it kept the
blade in place in my hand.
I then decided to place the blade in the freezer for a few hours in
order to account for some winter type temperatures and then see
how it would perform as well. The Pillar again performed better
than I could anticipate.
The blade still looks new, no issues. I then spent some time
on the sharpening block to see how this blade will take to the
block. I found it somewhat easy to manage, being a harder steel
than most, I expected it to be a little difficult. If you’re new to
sharpening blades, I would recommend starting this blade on a
leather strop before attempting to use a block. This blade will not
only sharpen well, it’s designed to take a beating and beyond.
The chromium is what gives steel its ability to resist corrosion, but
it is less tough and wear resistant than other metals. CPM S35VN
is made with 14% chromium to maximize stain resistance and
corrosion without giving up too much toughness. The addition of
molybdenum also helps to keep away corrosion, specifically the
type that causes pitting in the steel. After these tests and leaving
it out in the elements of North Florida, I haven’t seen any signs
of corrosion which is a great sign for future owners of the Pillar.
Final Thoughts
After spending over 3 months of regularly carrying the SOG Pillar, I
have decided this variant is by far one my favourites. I really loved
the aggressive look and feel of this blade. As I stated earlier, I
have carried many types of blades for different jobs throughout
my career and as an outdoorsman. SOG has really caught my eye
over the years, after my Benchmade foldable broke years ago, I
went to carrying the SOG on duty and it performed over and over
again without a hiccup.
Having the opportunity to test the Pillar and seeing how it
performed just continues to show that they are on top of their
game. They also offer a lifetime warranty which is a nice thing to
have in the back pocket when you invest in one of their blades.
Again, SOG has really accomplished something great with this
blade. Its ability to perform really impressed me as it didn’t
disappoint. The price point is about average in my opinion for
blades of this caliber and is well worth the extra cents to have a
quality blade added to your EDC that can accomplish many diverse
tasks and can handle the rugged terrains one may encounter. This
blade is built for the everyday outdoorsman to the
knife fighter as this balanced and aggressive blade
can most definitely be the difference maker in a
violent encounter.
As always, train the mind, train the weapon. Hope
is not an operational plan. Stay sharp and continue
the fight!
KNIVES: SOG PILLAR

pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS - SIG SCORPION P320 AXG
SIG SCORPION P320 AXG
Over the past six years, the hottest pistol platform on the market has clearly been the P320 series from
SIG Sauer. Since making its debut in 2014, the development of the P320 design has visibly grown in leaps
and bounds within the firearms community. Using a serialized chassis SIG refers to as the “fire control
system”, the P320 series allows for a plethora of options that have traditionally limited most firearms.
E
ach new model in the P320 series successfully
builds off the previous one with new contours
and styling in the attempts to develop the
perfect mission specific pistol. As the world has
watched SIG reshape the way we think about
polymer platform, private gun owners, law
enforcement and military groups have taken
notice and began to start transitioning to the
P320 and M17 variants.
Throughout last year, Clint Steele and I covered here in PMCI
Magazine the comparison of standard 320 model with two
of the newer variants. Clint discussed the Government issued
M17 variant while I detailed the Gucci “bells and whistles”
elite Legion model in one of the most enjoyable range
sessions I have ever covered. Both of us not only pointed
out the obvious pros of each pistol but honestly discussed
the cons as well. Aside from different features, these pistols
were all full-size competition and duty size pistols ready
for action straight out of the box for the best performance
possible in the polymer world.
While full-size frame pistols are most often thought of
first, it is the mid-size frame that is in the most demand
according to overall global sales. Over the past decade, the
Glock model 19 has clearly proven this point by consistently
leading all sales. Even as SIG inked the deal on one of the
most lucrative military contracts in history at the end of
extensive modular pistol trials with their full-sized M17
P320 variant, a mid-sized model M18 was also requested as
part of the deal. SIG is no stranger to producing both sizes to
meet military contracts as proven in their huge success with
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variants of the P226 and P229 models. To date, SIG has close ties
with the P320 platform with all four branches of the military.
The latest in the evolution of the P320 platform comes
from the SIG custom shop in the form of the P320 AXG Scorpion
model.
Unlike most traditional striker fired pistols; SIG decided to go
a different route with this model. Building off the huge success
of the Tungsten infused frame of the Legion model, SIG took it
one step further by using an Alloy X-series Grip (AXG) frame. This
all-metal frame is the backbone to a complete custom version of
the mid-size P320 Carry model. With features usually only found
in the company’s elite Legion series, this new variant coated with
Flat Dark Earth (FDE) Cerakote is not only visually appealing to the
professional world but sized to be comfortable and convenient to
conceal for both the civilian and covert operations worlds. As soon
as SIG introduced this new model in late 2020, I had a request
filed to receive one of the first shipments for test and evaluation.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Within a couple of weeks of my request, SIG had a sample of
the P320 AXG delivered to the office. When the box arrived, I
opened it up and pulled out a black Custom Works Case featuring
dual briefcase style locks. Upon opening this impressive looking
case, the pistol was nested neatly into its foam cut out with
one 17 round magazine inserted. Surrounding the gun were
two additional 17 round magazines, a certificate of authenticity,
the usually legal paperwork along with owner’s manual and a
beautiful SIG Custom Works challenge coin.
When I removed the pistol from the case, I first noticed
the weight. While not as overtly hefty and barrel heavy as the
Legion variant, it did clearly feel heavier than its M18 polymer
counterpart. When I indexed the pistol to full arm extension,
it seems to balance well in my hand and brought the sights
naturally to my eye line. The deep undercuts in the trigger guard
and the slim Hogue G10 Piranha grip panels made the pistol feel
as if it melted into my hand. Considering every P320 variant I
held until then featured grips molded into the frame, the AXG
Scorpion felt more like I was holding my Legion P229 hammer
fired pistol.
The skeleton flat trigger not only looked good but featured
the same smooth 6 lb trigger break and ridiculously short reset as
my Legion P320. I am a huge fan of the 90-degree trigger break
the flat trigger offers. As a firearms instructor, I have seen how
it helps eliminate trigger slop in new shooters. During rapid fire,
this aids in keeping the gun centered and on target much easier
and faster.
One specific item I carefully inspected was the magazine well.
This area was smoothly beveled on all four sides to accept not
only the standard 17 round magazines but the extended 21 round
magazines with the larger base plates as well. These are usually
not compatible with the standard P320 model but a huge plus
in being able to do so with the Scorpion. The same magazines I
regularly run with my Legion and M18 fit cleanly into the Scorpion
with no issues. This is a “must” option for me with any potential
carry gun as a ready reload. It was a huge understatement to say
I was looking forward to many upcoming range trips to break this
gun in and gather data.
FIREARMS - SIG SCORPION P320 AXG
pmcimagazine.com

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FIREARMS - SIG SCORPION P320 AXG
SIG SCORPION AXG P320 SPECS
CALIBER:
9mm Luger
MAGS INCLUDED
(3) 17rd Steel Mag
SIGHTS
X-RAY3 Day/Night Sights
OVERALL LENGTH
7.4 in
OVERALL WIDTH
1.3 in
HEIGHT
5.5 in
BARREL LENGTH
3.9 in
WEIGHT
31.3 oz
SIGHT RADIUS
5.8 in
TRIGGER ACTION
Striker Fire
TRIGGER TYPE
Skeletonized Flat Trigger
GRIP MODULE
Carry AXG
BARREL MATERIAL Stainless Steel
FRAME / SLIDE FINISH Flat Dark Earth
MSRP $1129
RANGE TIME
Over the following few months, I taught several classes from
Basic to Instructor level for both the USCCA and NRA as a
Training Counselor. The SIG AXG Scorpion was shot by several
fellow instructors, candidate instructors and new shooters alike
from all around Florida and on the range in Las Vegas, Nevada
as part of one of my courses. The feedback from varying levels
of proficiency was amazing. Some items pointed out were the
same regardless of skill level while shooters on the extreme
ends of the spectrum did take notices of opposite items as well.
Indexing onto target and acquiring the sights quickly
34

became second nature with the signature P320 grip angle and
its X-RAY3 Day / Night sights. Everyone commented on how
the gun simply felt natural in the hand. This was interesting
to hear from the experience shooters who commonly shot a
Glock with a more extreme grip angle. Some even commented
that shooting as little as 50 rounds through the SIG made going
back to their gun more difficult.
New shooters enjoyed the smoothness of the trigger that
made a standard 6 lb pull feel as if it were only around 3 or
4 lbs. More experience shooters commented more on the
extremely short reset rather than pull, with all comments
being incredibly positive of the trigger overall. There were
almost a dozen cases in which candidate instructors needing
to qualify on the range struggled within a few points of scoring
the needed points to pass with the pistols they brought to
class. After a few dry practices with the SIG P320 version of
the SIRT training pistol before using the SIG Scorpion to qualify,
every shooter comfortably succeeded their goal on the second
attempt. Regardless of age or gender, everyone shot better
after shooting the SIG with left and right variances decreasing
and less noticeable recoil anticipation than with their own guns.
Personally, the pistol balanced and shot like a cross between
a P229 and P320, with all the best options the custom shop
has to offer. My performance with the AXG versus the Legion
that I took to Washington DC last year to qualify to become
an NRA Training Counselor were nearly identical with the tie
breaker going to faster first shot times from holster. By the
time I cycled around to finally having a weekend off after five
weeks, over 2000 rounds fired and over 5,000 miles traveled,
the AXG Scorpion had well earned its place as my “go to” carry
and range instruction gun.
FINAL THOUGHTS
After spending over five months of regularly carrying and
shooting the P320 AXG Scorpion, I have decided this variant
is by far my favorite. I freely admit in previous articles, my
first exposure to the original P320 design back in 2014 was
a lukewarm first impression. Having carried Glock pistols
since 1997 and throughout my law enforcement career, I had
no intentions of moving away from the brand. Over the past
couple of years, our team of writers and Swanson Training
Group instructors have had the opportunity to test and review
all variants of the P320.
When the M17 was released, I began to evolve more
towards the SIG series as Clint Steele and I put some long hours
on the range in on learning the feel and accuracy of the newer
designs. After following up with the X5 Legion, I was sold on
the heavier feel for stability and superior overall accuracy the
pistol offered over my “go to” Glock 17. As I pointed out in the
PMCI review of the pistol, it was a great experience to shoot but
with the side cut outs and Tungsten impregnated weight of the
gun made it less than “optimal” for an everyday urban jungle
carry gun.
With the P320 AXG Scorpion, I really enjoyed the weight of
the aluminum alloy frame along with the crisp trigger break,
and easy to see sights. The overall feel of the gun seems to
balance in my hand. I daily carry the Scorpion in an Inside the
Waistband holster custom built by John Phillips aka “The King
of Kydex” from Survivor Creek Tactical. Loaded in the gun is the
17 round flush fit mag with an additional 21 round magazine
held in place inside my front pocket by a NeoMag carrier. The
hidden flared magwell make quick reloads with the extended
capacity magazines smoothly second nature. These enhanced
features of the new P320 Carry variant make for the perfect
storm of stability, compact size, and magazine capacity.
Retailing around US$1129, this variant is approximately
double the basic P320 pistol, but once you have an AXG Scorpion
in your hands and shoot it for the first time, the difference
is obvious. While it may not be the most cost-effective tool
for the first-time shooter, that was never the intention of this
variant of the pistol to begin with. From the ground up, the
AXG Scorpion was redesigned by the SIG SAUER custom shop to
be the tool of a professional. This gun is meant to help bridge
the gap between many warriors who prefer the
“real steel” feel of the SIG P229 versus those
who cling to their Glock 19 pistols.
For more about the AXG Scorpion and other P320
variants, visit www.sigsauer.com and explore.
Until next issue, Train Hard and Continue the
Fight!!
FIREARMS - SIG SCORPION P320 AXG

pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS - GLOCK 44
GLOCK 44 REVIEW
Question? What happens when you cross the history’s most popular caliber with the world’s most popular
firearms manufacturer? Answer – You get the Glock model 44 chambered in .22 LR! For the diehard Glock
fan base, this was a long-awaited platform shooters had been awaiting for decades! - TS
These shooters had to sit by the side as they
watched companies such as S&W, SIG, Ruger,
even Colt release or license .22 versions of their
popular larger caliber handguns and rifles. Prior
to late December, only option for running .22
LR on a Glock platform came in the form of a
conversion unit from Tactical Solutions that was
almost as expensive is the base model Glock it
was meant to convert.
Finally, after much anticipation, the model 44 hit the market
just as we moved into the year 2020 and Glock shooters
rejoiced. I should know, because honestly, I was one of them.
After spending a half hour shooting a sample of the new pistol
on the range during SHOT SHOW 2020, I immediately requested
a sample for T&E as soon as I could. After a full year of working
with the G44 on the range teaching classes and honing my own
skills, the final report is in!
BEYOND PLINKING
As I write this article, the United States has crossed into a period
of widespread ammunition shortages due to the growth of
over 7.3 million new gun owners over the span of 2020. Major
ammo manufacturers report in at anywhere for 12 – 14 months
in backlogged orders. Unlike the common defensive calibers
such as 9mm, .45, 5.56, it is still easier to find bulk quantities
of .22 LR at affordable prices when in stock. Regardless of what
brings shooters to the range, they all have a common need for
affordable ammo and trigger time to have fun and grow their
skillset.
The hot “buzz” term for all these new and traditional gun
owners over the past two years has all been the same, Self
Defense! Between media fearmongering, increased national
violence and the rapid growth of powerhouse organizations
such as the United Concealed Carry Association, people have
flocked to firearms training. Professional firearms instructors
have seen vast increases in Concealed Carry, Basic, Advanced
firearms, Situational Awareness and First Aid courses. As an NRA
and USCCA Training Counselor, I have not only taught hundreds
of students during this span and before, but also been honored
to help certify new firearms instructors as well. I have seen how
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our Swanson Training Group (STG) methodology, techniques,
and proper mindset along with the traditional training doctrine
we teach has trickled down to the students of our former
students and continued forward. As fellow PMCI writer, Clint
Steele would say, “Forward, always forward!”.
The challenges of teaching students how to properly shoot
lie in helping them learn proper stance, breathing, grip, sight
picture / sight alignment, trigger control and follow through
/ recoil mitigation. Over my twenty years of helping law
enforcement and civilian shooters become more efficient with
firearms, I have noticed where the most learning occurs. In the
classroom, the stance and grip can quickly be attained and
practiced using training aids as simple as blue guns or ASP red
guns, both which are simply gun shaped blocks of solid plastic.
To get true feedback from sight picture / sight alignment
and trigger control, SIRT guns from www.NextLevelTraining.com
or high end 6mm guns driven by green gas have proven to
be faster to decrease learning curves. These greatly assist in
getting students better focused on the fundamentals. However,
when it comes to breathing, recoil mitigation and follow
through, nothing can take the place of live fire. This is where
the Glock model G44 comes in handy.
FIRST LOOK
When the package from Glock arrived at my office a few weeks
after sending in my request, it contained a standard black plastic
Glock box with the G44 and an additional package containing
an optional threaded barrel. Much to my dismay, the model 44
only ships with two 10 round magazines, unlike most other
Glocks that come with three magazines. Also included are the
standard Gen 4 style backstrap additions. The overall size of the
frame and slide were that of a standard model 19 chambered
in 9mm or its counterpart, the model 23 in .40 cal. With the
Glock model G19 being the most popular model among civilian
sales and second behind the full sized G17, the G44 is marketed
to the largest possible audience.
While the dimensions are almost exact, the G44 comes in
about 9 ounces lighter than its G19 counterpart. This is mainly
due to the G44’s hybrid slide that incorporates a steel core
breach block and rails wrapped in a lightweight polymer cover.
This keeps the slide light enough for the force of the .22
LR to reliably cycle the slide. Combined with a fluted chamber
that allows for gas flow around the cartridge during firing to
clear debris away, the action helps fight fast build up commonly
associated with the tight tolerances of the .22 platform.
The G44 ships with the standard white dot front sight and
white outlined “U” shaped and can be upgraded with any sights
that will fit models such as the 19, 17, 34 or their corresponding
models. This can closer replicate the larger firearm one may
carry to training, duty or every day carry (EDC). The standard 5.5
FIREARMS - GLOCK 44

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FIREARMS - GLOCK 44
lb trigger felt like every “out of the box” Glock I have ever shot.
The flush fit ten round magazine loaded easily and dropped
free cleanly. I immediately ordered three additional magazines
to give me more training options in reloading without having
to stop every two magazine changes to refill them.
The G44 also ships with four replaceable back straps to
make the grip thicker as needed. Having smaller hands, I
cannot say I have ever needed any of these additional molded
straps, but I do have close friends who praise these options
for their gorilla sized paws. While I am a huge advocate of the
“adapt and overcome” philosophy of grip to hand ratio, I will
admit it does make life so much nicer when the gun feels like
it was custom made for you. Fortunately, grip felt great without
any extra add-ons straight out of the box. I was looking forward
to getting some rounds down range as soon as possible.
G44 SPECS
Caliber
Overall Length
Slide Length
Width (Overall)
Slide Width
Height w/ Mag.
Overall Sight Distance
Trigger Travel Distance
Magazine Capacity
.22 LR
7.28 inch
6.85 inch
1.26 inch
1.00 inch
5.04 inch
6.02 inch
2.76 inch
10 rounds
ON THE RANGE
To get different perspectives on the Glock 44, I invited fellow
STG instructor and gun writer, Jim Wenzel and well-known
holster maker, John Phillips aka the “King of Kydex” from
Survivor Creek to lend a hand. Our team met early one morning
at the Baldwin Pistol School owned by good friend, Tom Martin.
Over the next two hours, shooters ran various strings of fire and
made their notes. The ultimate compliment to come from this
initial session was simply, “It shoots like a Glock”. The pistol ran
flawlessly and felt very natural to a group of guys who have
spent the bulk of their shooting careers pulling Glock triggers.
As described in our review of the Elevated Silence .22
Swarm ( www.ElevatedSilence.com ) in our last issue of PMCI
Magazine, the successful range day continued as we switched
to running suppressed. There was little noticeable point
of aim, point of impact shift even at the 25 yard mark. The
diminutive suppressor beat “hands down” three other .22
caliber suppressors I had in our inventory. Using the shorted
configuration of the Swarm performed flawlessly, delivering
the same impressive accuracy with the threaded barrel as the
standard nonthreaded Glock barrel showed unsuppressed. Both
Suppressor and Mini Mag ammunition from CCI were used with
only a difference of a ¼” in accuracy difference in the two. The
suppressed ammunition grouped slightly lower than the full
power variant. This range session made me really excited to
introduce this pistol to my students at the range.
Rather than just having new shooters jump from running
SIRT or 6mm guns in the classroom to live fire with their
9mm or .45 caliber pistols on the range, my STG instructors
and I divide shooting into subcategories as well. Depending
on the skill level of our students, we will work them from
the SIRT and 6mm to a .22 caliber handgun in which all their
basic fundamentals can be practiced over and over under the
watchful eye of a qualified instructor. This offers our students all
the major fundamentals while keeping cost and recoil low. In
the past, I often used a Ruger MKIII and MKIV 22/45 pistol for
initial live fire.
As many readers know, the Ruger Mark series of pistols are
an ultra-reliable and accurate .22 option for new and seasoned
shooters alike. With most of our students running Glock 9mm
variants, the Glock 44 was quickly adapted and helped learning
curves between .22 and larger calibers greatly decrease. Even
38

more so than using the Ruger Mark pistols. Students moving
from the feel of the factory Glock trigger and standard factory
Glock sights of the G44 to the same of the G17 or G19 was a
direct transfer of comfort and proficiency. Try as others may,
nothing feels and performs like a Glock than another Glock.
During the test period, the G44 was shot over 1500 rounds.
Aside from the occasional shooter induced error and two noted
failure to go into battery issues due to an extremely dirty
chamber, the G44 has not regularly had any malfunctions.
During the test process, fellow instructor, Tom Martin spoke
to me about an issue he had with his three G44 pistols. It
seems Tom had been given some bad ammo in which produced
above average chamber pressures. The results were ejectors
constantly breaking and needing replaced before the problem
was diagnosed. While this is a relatively simple fix, it still is not
something you wish to regularly deal with. Since having this
issue, Tom has reported zero issues afterwards.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I recommend the Glock model 44 for a myriad of
reasons. As a long time fan of the innovative Ruger Mark series
and the classic Browning Buckmark line of pistols, the one clear
advantage the Glock offers over the others is the one to one
ratio it shares with the Glock 19. (For those wondering, the
G44 it will not interchange slides with its larger caliber cousin.)
From the new shooter to the tactical officer or GSSF competition
shooter doing practice walk throughs with low budget live
fire, this pistol has to capability to make you a better thinker,
shooter and strategist if done correctly.
Retailing for US$430, the average market price found in the
local gun shop is right round US$399. I recommend this pistol
as a great training aid to many of the new NRA and USCCA
Instructors I certify to begin their teaching endeavors. The
accuracy, constant trigger pull, familiar size and weight make
for a perfect combination for an affordable pistol for training.
With the rising cost of ammunition and lack of availability,
the Glock 44 offers one of the best options on the market to
continue live fire training and to best educate others in the
process.
Many will agree that the concept of a .22 caliber version
of the most popular handgun platform was long overdue.
However, I applaud Glock for taking their time
to get it right the first time. The best way to really
appreciate G44 is to shoot one for yourself. Several
ranges across the country offer them to rent prior
to purchase. I highly recommend giving it a try. To
find out more about this model and other Glock
products, visit www.us.glock.com.
FIREARMS - GLOCK 44

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SKILLS & DRILLS
MOBILE RANGE
With our good friend and valued PMCI contributor Andy N back in the fold he continues to share the experience
he has gained both in the UK military and “on the circuit” as he continues with his usual wry take on the “Skills
and Drills, Kit and Kaboodle” that are invaluable to any shooter!!!
D
oing the rounds on the square ranges, whether
it’s for personal gain or for defensive tactics can
be a little laborious to say the least. Even the
most sophisticated and high tech range can
seem like a place of doom and gloom. But what
if you find yourself on a range in the middle of
nowhere and with few and slim resources? How
would you go about setting up targets to practice
those new and old skills?
In this issue of PMCI I want to introduce you to my portable
or mobile range bag. I have three range bags; one for indoor
training with minimal kit, a bag for outdoor training with almost
everything I need for a full day on the range whatever the
weather, and my mobile range bag.
There have been many times that I’ve had to improvise adapt
and overcome during training sessions both on a purpose-built
rage and in the middle of nowhere. It can be hard and frustrating
at the best of times when you struggle to make do with only
what you have to hand. So I decided to put together a bag with all
that I need to build a range (well, targets system anyway). It may
not be the best nor the prettiest of systems, but when you have
absolutely nothing to hand this, to me, has proved a life saver.
Quite a few chaps who have had the privilege to use my mobile
range bag have gone on to put one together for themselves.
My first task was to plan it to be portable enough to take
on any deployment I may find myself on. Everything had to
be compressed into a large sports hold-all which was not too
cumbersome and heavy. This took lots of trial and error before I
got just what I needed, but my final result was workable.
My first problem was the target stand. For this I used 35mm
poly pipe the kind you find in a plumbers merchants or hardware
store. I cut lengths of pipe to fit into the bag with T-joints and
bends to construct the shape. I also added a couple of straight
connections for when the pipe gets damaged, so I can make a
quick repair. I use sticky tape to hold the paper target to the stand
once constructed. As for the targets themselves I use basically
whatever I can lay my hands on at the time. If it’s available, I
will use a role of lining paper, the type that decorators use when
papering a wall. This is cheap and easy to get hold of in most
places. Once secured in place with your trusty sticky tape you are
free to draw or spray paint wherever targets you want. The poly
pipe structure is lightweight and very sturdy for what it is but it
will need to be secured to the ground in order to stop it falling
over in the wind. For this I have used rocks, sandbags and even
filled the pipes with dirt from the ground before now. I’ve rarely
had any issues with these methods.
40

SKILLS & DRILLS
As I am no Picasso, I decided to also produce some simple
stencils to accompany the bag. On my home range we use stencils
made from hardboard, however this was not an option in this
case. I obtained some thin card and cutaway the desired size and
shapes needed to make my target stencils; again not the best in
the world but workable under the circumstances. I added tabs to
the shapes so I could hold them up to the target paper and spray
them with vehicle paint if it was to hand, failing that I could use a
marker pen to draw around them. I also cut out some shoot/no
shoot target stencils too. This gave me the opportunity to add target
identification drills into the mix.
The other items that I have included are coloured marker pens,
a roll of duck-tape (for hanging targets and repairs) some coloured
sticky dots for patching up the target and a retractable blade. Once
the target is constructed it’s easily moved around on the range if
desired. I was able to transport four target stands in one hold-all
including all the necessary kit needed to keep the range going. The
lengths of the poly pipe depends on the type of targets you are
going to use and also the size of the hold-all that you are going to
use to transport it in.
As I said it’s not the best nor is it the most sophisticated setup,
but it sure beats shooting at rocks in the middle of the desert!
Train hard, Fight easy; until next time...
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TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
42

TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
When it comes to “1911” 6mm training models right now it seems to be all about the fancy “tacticool” versions,
and whilst that’s no bad thing it’s worth remembering that the original single stack “daddy” is still a great
option for serious pistol shooters, and the latest tactical model from VegaForceCompany is as good as it gets
from the box!
IAlthough I seem to be spending a lot of time on the Short
Range at the moment with the latest “6mm Training”
models as I’m unable to travel out of the UK to shoot “real”
due to the current C-19 restrictions, I have to admit that I
do love a “classic” and there will always be a “1911A1” in
my collection of replicas simply because, just as in the real
world, it’s just a wonderful pistol to own and shoot!
Since it’s so versatile, the 1911 is a great gun for
competition shooters, concealed carry or as a homedefence
pistol, and of course it’s still the “secondary of choice” for
some Tier 1 units. It could be said that modern pistol designs have
made the 1911 obsolete in its role as a combat sidearm, but when
it’s set up and running well, it’s one of the most accurate pistol
out there, and the .45 ACP round certainly has all the power that
you’ll ever need! Since it is a uniquely American design that was
created by uber-gun-guru John Moses Browning and was used by
US soldiers in conflict from WWI onwards, it also sits high and proud
in American gun culture, and owning one for many is like getting
the “gun nod” from John Wayne or Audie Murphy themselves!
But in a world of striker-fired polymer double-stack handguns,
is the old warhorse still worthy of its reputation as a fighting pistol?
Some would argue that the undoubted reliability of modern pistol
designs, and indeed the increased round count that they offer,
makes the classic 1911 seem dated to say the least. Numerous
shooting luminaries have commented that a “stock 1911”, even one
from a well-reputed firearms manufacturer (let’s not forget that it’s
not only Colt that make 1991’s these days!), needs significant work
to turn it into a reliable combat pistol, but it would seem that there’s
a model that was purpose-built for the modern “operator” to use as
is from the get go, and that’s the Kimber Custom TLE II.
For any self-respecting gun bunny the name of Kimber is
one that they’ll know intimately! It’s acknowleged that Kimber
Manufacturing (somewhat interestingly founded by an Australian!)
based in Troy, Alabama creates some of the very best 1911 pistols
out there, and virtually every critical component is manufactured
inside the Kimber factory. LAPD SWAT chose Kimber, along with the
United States Marines assigned to Special Operations Command (the
MARSOC pistol, known as the Kimber ICQB (Interim Close Quarter
Battle) MEU SOC), The U.S.A. Shooting Rapid Fire Pistol Team, and
most recently, LAPD Special Investigation Section (SIS), and they
all chose Kimber for the same reasons apparently, those of quality,
dependability and accuracy.
As a volunteer unit within the LAPD formed in the 1960’s, the
LAPD SWAT team was initially made up of officers who furnished
much of their own equipment, including their own firearms. Not
satisfied with the performance or capacity of the “police special”
revolvers that were standard issue at the time, SWAT officers, many
of them former military, requested and were ultimately allowed
to carry 1911 .45 ACP semiautomatic pistols that they’d used, and
trusted, in the armed forces; it’s rumoured that even before formal
permission came for the SWAT officers to be issued a 1911 they
TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
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TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
resorted to carrying police-armoury refurbished models that had
been confiscated from criminals! While LAPD SWAT has become
a “benchmark unit” since 1967, all those original 1911 pistols
have worn out, even with regular repairs and replacement when
available, so the decision to finally purchase new pistols was
made in early 2002.
Of course there were some pretty harsh criteria from the
officers that dealt with criminal activity at the sharpest of sharp
ends, and first and foremost was reliability, that the pistol simply
worked every time, all the time. The pistol had to be “combat
accurate”, breaking four inch groupings with five shots at 25
yards. Following reliability and accuracy came stopping power,
and the .45 ACP cartridge was just the ticket for that, a renowned
and respected “man stopper”. Each pistol needed to have reliable
safety devices, good sights, good ergonomics, and a great trigger.
The testing was rigorous, a gruelling two-years, and every aspect
of the pistols was tested, retested, and evaluated.
Kimber have pretty much been a success story right from
the introduction of the first models back in 1995. In the early
2000’s though Kimber struck it big when they won that contract
for supplying LAPD SWAT, as the Kimber Custom II 1911 was
selected against four other companies that competed against
Kimber for the contract. The Kimber Custom II single-stack .45
1911 (5” Government Model) defeated all comers, and became
the standard issue sidearm for LAPD SWAT operators, and for an LE
contract, it was a big one, 160 guns to issue every operator with
two pistols (more on that later). Each LAPD SWAT Kimber Custom
II came with a reliability upgrade, match-grade barrel and trigger
group, full-length guide rod, Meprolight tritium night sights, a
checkered front strap, front and rear slide serrations (I remember
reading at the time this was so the pistol could be cocked against
the body or police car door if the officer was injured in one arm),
and a matt-black oxide finish. Each pistol also displayed “LAPD
SWAT” markings on the right side of the slide, and special serial
numbers exclusive to the team.
CITY STREETS TO TRAINING RANGES
With the latest release from VegaForceCompany (VFC) in the form
of their “1911 Tactical Custom” though I believe we’ll be seeing
some happy replica collectors, especially given the popularity of
the movie “SWAT” and the more recent TV show of the same
name, and the replica is a lovely handgun in its own right, both
to own and train with!
Although the main character in the original 1975 TV show,
Lieutenant Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (played by veteran actor Steve
Forrest) used a classic single-stack 1911A1, the movie of 2003
saw Sam Jackson step into the “L-Ts” role, and along with the
other members of the squad including Jim Street (Colin Farrell),
he carried the Kimber Custom TLE II, both with and without the
Surefire 310R weapon light. The pistols were fitted with the 310R,
distinguishable from the issued 610R by the minimal protrusion
past the muzzle, probably due to the majority of the 610Rs and
spare parts being earmarked by Surefire for the “real guys”!
Although the Custom TLE II was correctly replaced in the 2017
TV show with the modernised Kimber Custom TLE/RL II and TLR-
1 Streamlight combo, I’m actually kind of glad that VFC chose
to base their latest GBB on the “Jackson” model to distinguish
it further from the plethora of replica railed “MEU” styles and
“railguns” out there, and it’s definitely a nod to that first-issued
SWAT 1911 which I personally love.
The “1911 Tactical Custom”, just like the real deal, is a striking
looking pistol! It aims to break a few moulds in both looks and
performance, and to my mind it does both very well indeed!
The new pistol is beautifully finished in every respect, living up
to the “Kimber” feel although thankfully VFC haven’t included
trademarks; VFC are one of the 6mm companies that understand
the licencing game well and hold a number of good ones, and to
be frank I would have been slightly disappointed had they added
spurious ones to this pistol model. I all honesty this 1911 doesn’t
need any dodgy trades to help it sell, as it’s good enough, WAY
good enough, without them; the VFC 1911 is totally unmarked,
44

making it “a completely blank canvas for you to place your own
custom markings on it”.
That said, the VFC is undoubtedly a replica of the Custom TLE
II and just looks great; VFC have done a top job in replicating the
matt-black oxide finish (Kimber use their own finishing known as
KimPro on many of their specialist pistols) of the real thing, and
all the components like the trigger, hammer, and outer barrel are
finished silver. The pistol features both the checkered front strap,
along with those all-important front and rear slide serrations, and
clearly white-spot-marked front and rear sights that are easy to use.
In use this 1911 is all about smooth cycling, and all the positive
ergonomics you would come to associate with the 1911 platform.
Technically speaking, internally the pistol features a revolutionary
hop up design that allows you use the guide rod for adjustments,
the GuideHop, and this can easily be done on the go if necessary,
allowing for you to access the hop without removing the complete
slide; all you need to do is hold the slide to the rear and turn the
guide rod itself to increase or decrease the hop with series of “clicks”
that you can both feel and hear, then release the slide forward to
keep shooting! The pistol also comes with a 20BB magazine and
is extremely gas efficient, but that’s something I’ve come to expect
from VFC these days! Literally my only gripe with the entire pistol
is the magazine floorplate, which is “bumper style” rather that flat
plain… yup, that’s it!
VFC quote power output on green gas as iro 0.83 Joule/300fps
for the 1911, and they’ve got this pretty right; I tested using NP
2.0 gas and .20g RZRs and through the chrono ended up with a
variance between 299 and 302fps which is pretty tight! Admittedly
this was on quite a cold morning, so I’m thinking that the pistol
could be a little livelier, and even more consistent, in hot weather,
but still happily within a safe and usable power margin. Accuracy
on the 10m Short range was excellent, punching the 240x210mm
steels consistently with no “flyers”, and even delivering hits to the
60x50mm “headspace” on the steels at 5m.
I’ve one more comment to make on the 1911 Tactical Custom
before closing, and that’s about the Surefire 610R weaponlight, and
the “two 1911” thing I mentioned earlier. At the time of issue each
officer was actually issued with not one, but two Kimber Custom
II .45 ACP pistols, one pre-fitted with a 610R; this was due to the
fact that the original pistol was un-railed, and therefore needed
modification to fit a light. Originally designed for the 1911 pistol
by John Matthews, President of SureFire, and Bob Webber, former
LAPD SWAT armourer, the SureFire Classic 610R Tactical Pistol Light
was used by LAPD SWAT for some twenty years, but is now sadly a
discontinued model. Luckily for collectors, if you want to replicate
the full “SWAT-package”, VFC have also released a super replica of
this light, the V1911 TACTICAL ILLUMINATOR. This slides right on to a
1911 frame, locking on with a longer slide stop, allowing you to fit
a taclite without the need for an accessory rail, although as per the
original you will need to pre-mount it if you want this option, and
you’ll need a light compatible holster.
With this particular base covered off I believe that VFC have
another 6mm winner on their hands with the “1911 Tactical
Custom”; it’s a quality gas-driven pistol that cycles hard and fast,
and is able to put BBs on target time and again, and in a supercost-effective
way! It absolutely oozes quality, and with the “SWAT
heritage” behind it, it’s a pistol that will be a must have for many
collectors and shooters alike. Irrelevant of whether you buy this
pistol for training purposes, or just want a really, high-quality 1911
replica for your collection, you’ll be pleased that you bought one of
these, and I believe it’s a model you’ll cherish for some considerable
time to come!
My sincere thanks got to my good friend Ray at
www.vegaforce.com for sending me this lovely pistol,
and to Danny at uk.redwolfairsoft.com for facilitating
delivery; check out either link for more information on
the 1911 Tactical Custom, along with many other great
models from VFC.
TRAINING: VFC 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM
pmcimagazine.com

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PMCI
BOOK REVIEW
I'd like to take the time to introduce
you to our model featured left, a
friend of mine named Travis Partyka,
affectionally known as 'Big Red', being
6'4" and 240lbs. He was the real
deal, 2-14INF 10th MTN DIV Sniper,
contractor and my friend.
Well remembered and sorely missed
27/6/84 - 24/01/21 RIP TP.
Baz, PMCI Team.
RISK TAKER, SPY MAKER:
TALES OF A CIA CASE
OFFICER
Sometimes you come across a factual story that reads just like a
novel, and Risk Taker, Spy Maker: Tales of a CIA Case Officer by
Barry Broman is one of them, and it’s a story that I personally
found hard to put down!
Broman has led a remarkable life, and met some remarkable
people along the way of his years at a Central Intelligence
Agency case officer. He was a teenage photographer for the
Associated Press in Southeast Asia, then a Marine Corps infantry
officer in combat in Vietnam before spending a quarter century
as a “head-hunter” with dozens of recruits for the Clandestine
Service in operations around the world. A lifelong photographer
and traveller, he has published many articles and books.
Broman received a BA in Political Science in 1967 followed by an
MA in Southeast Asian Studies a year later. Immediately following
his service in the Marine Corps, he was recruited by the CIA and
spent his first posting in Cambodia at war. He was present at
the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975, escaping just before the Khmer
Rouge took power.
He subsequently served in other Asian postings, one in Europe,
and one in the Western Hemisphere. During his career, Broman
was twice a CIA chief of station, once a Deputy Chief of Station,
and supervised an international para-military project in support of
the Cambodian resistance to Vietnamese invaders. He was actively
involved in several assignments in counter-narcotics operations in
Southeast Asia including a major “bust” that yielded 551 kilograms
of high-grade heroin from a major drug trafficker!
His “favourite agent” against a variety of “hard targets” was a
fellow whose only demand was that his assignments be “life
threatening”; he survived them all. At times, the memoir reads
like a travel book with tales of visits to little-known and rarely
seen places like the Naga Hills on the India-Burma border, the
world-famous but off limits jade and ruby mines of Burma, and
the isolated Banda Islands of Indonesia, the home of nutmeg.
The book is strengthened by many photos by the author. They
include Marines in action in Vietnam, the ravages of war in
Cambodia at war, and opium buyers forcing growers to sell in
Burma. If you want to know more about changing times on a
worldwide stage, of the evolution between real war and the
“shadow war” and the part of one astonishing individual in all of
it, then this is a “must read”.
Publisher : Casemate Publishers (15 Aug. 2020)
Language : English
Hardcover : 312 pages
ISBN-10 : 1612008968
ISBN-13 : 978-1612008967
BOOK REVIEW
pmcimagazine.com

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/
48

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
50

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/