BATFE to BAN Commonly used XM855 Ammunition

The ATF is trying to ban the sale of XM855 or SS109. This is Bad, these videos illustrate why.

Act now!!

Step 1- write to the ATF 

ATF email: APAComments@atf.gov

Fax: (202) 648-9741.

Mail: Denise Brown, Mailstop 6N-602, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Enforcement Programs and Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226: ATTN: AP Ammo Comments.



Step 2 write to your Representative
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find

Step 3 Sign the Petition
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-batfe-banning-xm855-ammunition/XrvVh1cj




SAMPLE LETTER:

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to voice strong opposition to the proposed change to current law that would make it illegal to manufacture, import or sell on the open market M855 / SS109 ammunition.

The claimed purpose of this change is to “protect the lives and safety of law enforcement officers from the threat posed by ammunition capable of penetrating a protective vest when fired from a handgun”.

As the Technical Branch well knows, all rifle ammunition of a common caliber such as .223 / 5.56 is capable of penetrating threat level IIA and IIIA body armor regardless of the firearm that is used to fire it. M855 / SS109 is no more of a threat to law enforcement than M193 or Horandy VMAX loads are.

It’s also worth noting that rifle caliber pistols are rarely used in violent crime, their usage is a statistical zero for all practical purposes, which further begs the question as to why this proposed rule change is even being considered.

Banning the availability of affordable surplus ammunition under the false pretense that it’s in the name of officer safety is a direct violation of our 2nd Amendment rights. To reiterate, it is clear that this proposed change places an unreasonable restriction on law abiding citizens that will have unintended consequences and will further negatively impact our ability to exercise freedoms guaranteed to us by Constitution of the United States.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

FULL NAME
CITY / STATE

Wolf Releases Optics Line

SHOT Show 2015:

Wolf officially releases its line of optics for sale to the public. Included in its offerings is the PSU, a 1x-4x competitor to the Raytheon Elcan. It is equipped with graduations for work out to 800 m and includes seven low light reticle settings as well as throw lever quick-detach mounts.

Also, included in their offerings is a series of night vision devices. Of these the PN23 is a dedicated night optic with integral IR illumination source. Similarly, the PN22 maintains all of the capabilities of the PN23; however, also includes the ability to transition to no IR support for full use during the daylight hours. Lastly, the PN21K is a PVS-14 style monocular designed to be mounted on the head or hard mounted behind an optic on a rifle.

At VSO we had the opportunity to run these optics through several hard days of testing and evaluation and were impressed.
For more information check out the interview and official release video below:

Asymmetric Solutions Capability Demonstration 2014

I recently attended and filmed the capabilities demonstration at Asymmetric Solutions USA. It was a multi-part demonstration the first phase of which was a simulated hit. See that video below.

ShootSteel.com Portable AR500 Steel Targets

ShootSteel.Com has a wide range of target set ups that, in my opinion are excellent alternatives. I first came across these by shooting with FXHummel. To date we had been blasting away at really heavy homemade stuff that I welded together myself. I really love how easy they are to set up and transport. Here is a quick look at the excellence:

Machine Gun Time at Asymmetric Solutions

Everyone loves Full-Auto. Its not really practical unless you are trying to generate a base of fire but it sure is fun. In this video we give a brief synopsis of the weapon system and then...Fun time.

Enjoy the show

Sig Sauer 556R: Not Really for AK Guys

As many of you know we have been testing the Sig Sauer 556R for some time now and have produced multiple videos featuring this weapon system. We have mixed results from this thing and the most recent round of testing was no exception.

Some issues can be chalked up to training issues or user performance but I would definitively say that there are areas for improvement on the gun as far as a design to user interface is concerned. To give a brief synopsis of the video you are about to see, we swapped owners on the following two rifles. An Arsenal SLR owned by FXHummel was run by one of our crew and FX, a trained AK user, used the Sig 556R.

The major take away for me was Kalashnikov training does not intuitively translate to the Sig design. Oh, yeah and tapco mags suck...but we already knew.

Enjoy the show.

Stevens 320: Light in your Hand and on your Wallet

Yeah, so the Stevens 320 12 gauge shotgun. This was actually a gifted gun from my mother. Long story short, I sold the Benelli to Wombat- ex wife shenanigans that I am not going to get into here. Because of that, I was short a 12 gauge and constantly complained. I really liked that gun and although I am glad that it went to a good home I am pissed that I has to off it.

My dear mother (knows nearly nothing about guns) went out and bought me this Stevens 320. I really like this gun; it's light and shoots well. That said it does have a little jump to it because of the weight. We will have to see how it performs long term, but for now see the rest of the review below:

Tactical Pistol Training at Asymmetric Solutions

Recently we visited Asymmetric Solutions  for a second time. While there we did a few filming sessions, a photo shoot for some equipment, and of course some hardcore training. Two days of training to be exact; some of it filmed, most of it not. Two classes were filmed for which videos will be forthcoming. Tactical Pistol 1 and Tactical Rifle 1. Both courses were taught by highly credentialed individuals who have re-purposed their skill sets and experience to instructing across the board. 

We put Wombat into the Pistol course with a camera attached to his head and inserted the rest of the team into the Tactical Rifle course. I bounced back and forth between the two courses observing the guys' performance and ran the camera.  

As an observer that day, the major take away was that the instructors are just DAMN AWESOME. Highly skilled, knowledgeable, personable, and most importantly, very candid and funny. 

While post production is taking a considerable amount of time I now am able to present to you a look inside a Tactical Pistol 1 Course at Asymmetric Solutions. This facility is located near Farmington, Missouri and offers a full compliment of course ranging from basic to expert level. Hopefully we will see you at the range sometime soon.

Enjoy the show.

BreakThrough Clean: Gets the Muck Out

I recently Tried out some Breakthrough on one of the shotguns that survived our recent torture test. I was very impressed. Video below

Also if you have not seen the reason the shotgun was in the condition that it was that video can be seen here:

M14: Show Stopper

M14, Cold, Wet, Muddy, Rainy. Steel Bad Guys.

Video:

Geissele Automatics MK3: Standards Set

Below is a look at the Geissele Automatics MK3.

This is an ongoing video series, stay tuned as we roll out.

Spectre

Gandalf the Red: Would an AK-47 have Helped in The Lord of The Rings

I saw this photo and I was compelled to make a meme out of it. My question to you is this: How would this have altered the story line? I mean we are of course assuming that as a wizard Gandalf could generate am unlimited source of ammunition and magazines for himself. Also, it seems to me that orcs are just as mortal as humans so 7.62x39mm probably does a number on them. Perhaps it would be even more effective because, at least in the movies, they tend to disintegrate pretty easily at the edge of a sword. Although, it could be entirely the opposite, the high-velocity rounds could pass through doing little damage. They are little fuckers after all. Now Uruk-hai, on the other hand, most certainly are beefier and would provide adequate mass for terminal ballistics.

The real question is, would the weapon have helped with the Balrog? I'm going to say hell no. That thing is like a napalm-drenched dragon crossed with a train, crossed with Arnold Schwarzenegger (from the terminator days). Did I mention it can fly too. That all said, the fact that Gandalf took that that thing with a sword, a staff, and a healthy dose of badass magic shows one of two things. Either the Balrog is a pussy or Mr. Grey is far beyond the assistance of an AK-47.

Fast forward a bit to the battle of Pelennor Fields. How about there? Gandalf, now the White (significantly more powerful), is stuck within the city of Minas Tirith. Street to street fighting with hordes of Uruk-hai? Yeah, he probably could have used one of those. He even had a little bitch-boy to load mags for him. From one hand he could be lobbing staff derived plasma, and spew Soviet hellfire from the other. #CombatMultiplier. Wrap your brain around this one boys and girls: a magically augmented AK-47. Gasp...

What is to keep him from magically reproducing them for the whole army? Gasp again...

So it really isn't a huge stretch-they already have a basic grasp on the use of projectile weapons. But I am sure the elves would go all Obi-Wan Kenobi on it, call it uncivilized, and stick with the bow skill they have been perfecting for thousands of years.

For that matter, once seen on the battlefield what is keeping the forces of darkness from replicating it? I mean, I built one in my basement and small African children can keep them running. I am sure an evil army with a few wizards of their own and the manufacturing capabilities of Isengard could pull it off. Gasp X3...

Your thoughts?

The Best Firearms Training

It's been a while since I gave an update on our video series on Asymmetric Solutions USA, located near Farmington Missouri. So I thought I would touch base. This week I would like to focus on two videos in particular. The reason is this: When VSO went there we received a broad spectrum of training that very few places can replicate; both with the depth of knowledge in their training cadre and the capabilities of their facility. The following two videos contain information that everyone should have access to and be able to easily incorporate into their training regimen, carry doctrine, and home defense planning.

"How to Handle a Home-Invasion with Kids"
While VSO was onsite we learned how to operate the shoot house as a team and kill bad-guys very efficiently. Two of the chief rules were never go into a room by yourself, and always maintain communication with your buddies. So in an after action interview with the manager of the instructor cadre who will remain unnamed I posed this question:
What if you are by yourself? Single? Perhaps a parent with children? What if evil knocks on your door then?
In a jovial manner, he suggested getting married and then we got down to brass tacks. I could ramble on but lets let the professional take it from here:

The second video I would like to talk about is this piece:
"Retaining Your Firearm in a Crowd or CQB Situation"
This fine nugget of gold came out in an impromptu manner when head instructor Grady Powell was prepping us for entrance into the kill house. Grady is an excellent instructor that is very free flowing in his teaching style, allowing him to move through progressions rapidly if everyone is on the same page, and spend more time on areas that need work. I very much enjoyed spending the day under his custody. In the following video we are simulating a crowded area with a target that needs taken down. The progressions eventually turn to frantic, then to semi-hostile individuals obstructing your firing solution. When you watch this drill and listen to his advice on handling your firearm imagine two scenarios.

1.) You are in a crowded area, a mall, movie theater, party, ect. and a crazy person opens fire on the crowd. You are a CCW holder who decides to act. It's absolute chaos with people running every direction, smashing into each other, trying to get out of harms way.
2.) Same situation, only this time the crowd misidentifies you as the shooter and decides to act against you.
How do you respond? Well once again let's pick up with the experts:

I hope everyone who watched these videos gained something. IF you didn't and you were all trained up, cuddos. (liar)

On one final note:
I have had several requests for hand to hand combat instruction taught by Grady Powell. I'll make you a deal. On my next visit to AS, come on down. You fight Mr. Powell and I will gladly film.While we were there, one of my crew asked me if there was "some kind of size restriction on being in the Special Forces?". Every person we met while we were there would be a formidable adversary in any degree of combat. Grady was no exception and " I ain't touchin' that guy" because his high-drag, low-speed is still fatal to us mere mortals.

As always,  if you are looking for your certified badass card, check into our friends at Asymmetric Solutions and tell them Spectre sent Ya!

Ruger Gun Locks: Unbreakable...Well Almost

Well sometimes you can't trust your neighbors. Why not take all those gun locks that you never use and put them on your outdoor components. Great Idea Right? Until you lose the key. Check out Tacdaddy.com, where you won't find any of the bolt cutters in this video, but you will find some good kit.

Spectre

Tanya Kyle Crushes Second Amendment Opposition

If you can watch this and not tear up, you have something wrong with you.

Look into this woman's eyes and tell me that the Second Amendment and the Constitution is not sacred.

That is all.

Spectre

Troy Industries Products: Disapproved

I am not going to pretentend that I dug this information up one own. Credit is due to Tim from the Military Arms Channel. On his blog The Bang Switch, there is a full synopsis of the situation at Troy and why you should add them to your black list. Please read their piece  titled "Hiring Follies of Troy Industries" to get the full scoop.

As for me, all Troy products have been removed from the VSO Approved Gear List. I have also advised my entire team of the situation, their reaction was immediate and unanimous: No more Troy products will be purchased unless corrective action is taken. Here is a direct message to Troy Industries on behalf of the VSO team: 

As a company who claims to support the rights of the people it is your duty to ensure that the officials that you employ share the ideals outlined in the constitution.You have cried foul in the past when Dicks Sporting Goods singled your company out for your Ar-15 products. Now WE, your clients, are crying foul and demand that you stand with us rather than those who stand against us. It is your choice which road you choose to follow, the one with the big government contracts or the one with the people. As it sits now, will not support your company or products for the anti-American stance of these hires. Correct this action or the message will permeate throughout the shooting community.

Thanks again to MAC & The Bang Switch  for bringing light to the situation. Please go over and comment telling them that Spectre sent ya.