Tactical Fanboy
Tactical Tailor
Home Categories TacticalFanboy Archives Email

Archive for May, 2012

This guy did right by his hopeful fiancee

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

‘nuther Gratuitous Hot Girl With Gun (NESFW)

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Been slacking on ’em lately, so figured you could use another one. NESFW (Not Especially Safe For Work)

Got forty mike-mike?

(more…)

Shooter jewelry: a .44 Caliber Ring

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

About some people, it’s said they “wear their heart on their sleeve”, but what if your heart doesn’t belong on your sleeve, but on your finger instead?

For handgun enthusiasts, here’s a great way to show your love for your favorite firearms (other than by buckling on your holster). Add a bit of pistol hardware into your style with a ring that’s a scale replica of a classic revolver chamber.

The Pistol Ring, by Blue Bayer Design NYC, is an exact scale replica of a 44 Cal revolver chamber, cast in solid sterling silver and blackened with a permanent oxidizer. The rings are available in sizes from 4 to 11, and some engraving is possible on each piece.

And if you want a little more bling in your pistol chamber ring, there’s also a 7 diamond version of this piece, which has six 1.5 mm diamonds set in a row on one of the chamber ridges, plus one tiny diamond as the period at the end of “44 CAL”.

The Pistol Ring sells for $160, and the diamond version for $240, on Etsy.

Via Discovery Channel Gear.

Gratuitous hot girl with gun (OSSFW)

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Gratuitous hot girl with gun…this is actually a pretty interesting shot, the way its composed. Only Somewhat Safe For Work.

(more…)

HALO Master Chief on the BBC

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Via Nerd Approved.

Check out the logo for Halo’s fictitious United Nations Space Command right behind this BBC reporter. This was the image that greeted viewers during this segment about the real United Nations’ involvement in the very real conflict happening in Syria. The BBC later apologized for the mistake, but legions of Halo fans are now seeking the door to the alternate universe in which the UNSC actually exists.

Gratuitous hawt tattooed chick (OSSFW)

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Here ya go. Only sorta safe for work.

(more…)

Read this op-ed from the Rhino Den.

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Excerpted from the Rhino Den.

chris hayesMSNBC’s Chris Hayes proclaimed on Memorial Day that he was uncomfortable labeling fallen troops as heroes as he felt the term is used as an excuse to engage in “Unjust Wars”.

Somewhere Michael Moore, Bill Maher, and the Westboro Baptist Church just had a Douchegasm.

Forget that Hayes chose the worst possible day imaginable to show off his Brown University education by trying to opine on the definition of the word “Hero”.  Also, forget that his “brilliance” had a special layer of disrespect as he dropped this knowledge bomb on us directly after speaking to a Marine who holds the honored and difficult responsibility of delivering the news of the fallen to their families.  Let’s just look at his base contention: hearing the word “Hero” in relation to fallen members of the military makes people want to go to war…

…There was a time when men served – when to not serve was deemed cowardice.  There was a time when Captain America, the weak little kid who couldn’t enlist because he was too small and sickly but never gave up until he could wear the uniform, was our gold standard of manhood, service, and patriotism.

We all know those days are dying if they aren’t dead already.

It’s been replaced by a small patriotic civilian base who understands the founding principles of our nation and the 0.45%, a shrinking warrior caste that is expected to hold the Fort while much of the rest of the country pushes for their next thrill, next car, next reality TV show, and next pleasure…

Read this story in its entirety.

Tactical Distributors Memorial Day Sale – Extended

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Tactical Distributors has extended its Memorial Day sale through today, so there’s still a bit of time to take advantage of the 20% discount on all items on the site (excluding EOTech and Aimpoint) and free overnight shipping on orders over $100 (excluding Pelican cases and oversized orders). Use promo code ‘HOTDOG20’ at checkout to apply the discount.

First Thoughts on the FNS Striker-fired Pistol

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
Reprinted here from The Tactical Wire.
By Rick Staples

The FNS is a 9mm, striker-fired, 17-shot pistol.

Right after the 2012 SHOT Show I received a call from a friend about a new striker fired handgun. He directed me to OMB GUNS in Olathe Kansas. It was there that I got my hands on the new FNS striker fired 9mm pistol.

First impressions mean a lot, even in the gun business. I picked it up handled it, and bought it.

Since I have owned the FNS I have now put a little over 400 rounds through it. There have been no stoppages of any kind with every brand of ammo I have shot through it.

I really wanted to like the trigger on this pistol, but I don’t. On my copy the trigger breaks at 5 pounds 13 ounces, for all intents and purposes, 6 pounds, within the spec in the FNS owner’s manual (range from 5.5 to 7.7 pounds). This does not mean that a person cannot LEARN this trigger. I was able to manage it. A really light trigger is a BAD thing to have on an issue law enforcement pistol. In 35 plus years in law enforcement I held a bunch of folks at “gun-point”. When your heart rate is about 180 and that front sight looks like it is attached to a paint mixer you don’t want a light trigger. With all that said, I think the trigger could be brought down to just under 5 pounds and be a bit more manageable.

The FNS 9 ships in a lockable plastic box with three-magazines.

I really like everything else. The gun comes in a really decent lockable plastic box with three magazines. The manual is easy to read with good photos. There is a small lock and two interchangeable backstraps, basically a small and a large.

The pistols controls are ambidextrous; the slide stop, safety, and magazine release are located on both sides of the pistol. The ambidextrous controls will assist in streamlining training for agencies.

The pistol is very reliable. It has really good sights; mine is equipped with the factory night sights. The front sight is approximately .130 inches wide by .20 inches tall. The rear sight has a notch approximately .135 inches wide. The rear sight has a “U” shape to the bottom edge. On my pistol the front sight tritium element fits perfectly in that groove and lines up with the rear sight elements. The night sights on my pistol are made by Trijicon.

The magazines are made of metal and have a capacity of 17 rounds in 9mm. The metal magazines are slim making the grip slim. Seventeen rounds of 9×19 allow for less manipulation under dire circumstances.

The main controls (magazine release button, slide release, thumb safety) are ambidextrous, a good thing for agency issue).

I like the fact the FNS has a manual safety, it provides options. Keep the safety ON while loading and unloading. The safety does NOT block the slide when it is on. My rule is that I will not carry any handgun “off-body” (in a portfolio or briefcase) unless it is DA/SA or equipped with a manual safety. The safety is small, but workable. It operates like a conventional 1911 safety. There is a red dot for those that are vision dependent to indicate the pistol is OFF-SAFE. Like most modern striker fired pistols the FNS has a drop safety and a hinged trigger safety.

I contacted Neil Davies, of Hornady ammunition, at the NRA show and asked about his company’s latest Critical Duty load for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. He advised that he would ship some out. The ammo arrived and off to the range I went with the FNS and five different loads.

Even with the heavy trigger I was able to turn in some VERY respectable groups.

AMMO Velocity best 5 shot group

Hornady 124 gr. TAP FPD 1108 fps 2.2 inches
Hornady 135 gr. Critical Duty 1010 fps 2.3 inches
Hornady 135+P Critical Duty 1092 fps 2.4 inches
Remington 115gr. Ball FMJ 1114 fps 2.7 inches
Winchester 127+p+ Ranger 1221 fps 2.1 inches

These were the best of five, 5-shot groups fired with the ammo. I shot from a stable sandbag rest. Several of the groups had four shot clusters that were in the one inch plus range with the fifth kicking it open to two inches. The range was 25 yards.

All of the ammo fed without a single problem. The Winchester Ranger load is a real screamer and street reports attest to its effectiveness. I haven’t shot the 135 grain Hornady ammo into any ballistic gel, but my guess is that it will perform.

I think the FNS would make a great issue sidearm for law enforcement. It would appear that the folks at FNH have listened to the law enforcement consumers and have responded. It is well made (made in the USA by the way) and above all reliable. I haven’t seen an armorer’s manual yet. My guess is that it is pretty simple on the inside. Field stripping the pistol is straightforward and explained well in the owner’s manual.

I’d like a better trigger. Still, it shoots well, it is reliable, and it has great sights. I think it will make a great stock service contender for IDPA competition. It would make a great pistol for the licensed CCW license holder. It’s ready to go.

Rick Staples served 35 years, 5 months and 29 days in law enforcement with a mid-sized city police department. He served in patrol, investigations, warrant service, SWAT, fugitive apprehension and training. His last eight years were spent at the Regional Police Academy as a full time trainer. He has been a “gun-guy” for over 46 years. He started his career in 1973, the “blue steel guns and wooden clubs” era, as he puts it.

Combat Mindset

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Some thoughts on Combat Mindset, from CRAFT International Training:

When I began my training many years ago, it was very much like a game of chess with strategy and tactics.  I believed that with enough training I could counter any move.  I would often see a move or tactic and immediately tell you what I could do to counter that move.  I truly did not understand the elements of violence.  I was basing all my training on people who had the same values and ethics or morality as myself.  I was only fighting to win and dominate.  I had not added the words destroy or kill.  I was not ready to say those words or introduce their meaning to my training.  I learned that the criminal has no fight within his/her moral compass to bring violence.  He/she will seek violence and I would always be fighting from a defensive position.  I had to change this.  I had to discover my violence and truth.  I had to be able to go where the predators go.

chess board

After, learning and understanding the nature of violence and Chaos, I no longer saw Chess as a game of strategy and tactics.  I no longer equated my training to chess.  Chess allowed an opponent in the game and you would work to defeat them.  I learned to never allow anyone in the game.  It all begins with behavior and understanding the nature of the predator.  The predator will take, cheat and dominate your tactics.  If your Defensive Tactics training leads you toward reactionary training, you will fail.

chess peices

Once an officer can fight and train under the combat mind, he must also understand his/her morality and descalate to the appropriate use of force.  It is the human element that makes you different from a criminal.
by Rigo Durazo,
Craft Director of Combative Training
Creator of TACFLOW

S&W M&P Shield: a Review from Texas Gun Talk

Monday, May 28th, 2012

 

The S&W M&P Shield is one of the hottest and newest pistols on the market as of this article. Available in 9mm or .40 S&W, it’s a continuation of the Military & Police series from Smith and Wesson.

Stats
Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: M&P9 Shield
Price: $449 MSRP
Caliber: 9mm Luger (9×19)
Capacity: 7 or 8 Rounds 1.5 Stack Magazine
Firing Action: Striker Fired Light Double Action
Trigger: 6.5# Pull Weight
Safeties: Trigger Snag Safety, Plunger Style Drop Safety, and External Safety
Extractor: External Claw
Materials: Polymer Frame, Melonite Coated Stainless Steel Slide and Barrel

The M&P Shield comes with two magazines, a flush fitting 7 round magazine and an extended 8 round magazine for those with larger hands. Even with the shorter magazine I can get a full grip on the gun which is a commonality with the M&P lineup; like the M&P9c. The backstraps, however, are not removable. This no doubt was part of the reasoning for lowering the price point of the Shield.

The pistol features an 18 degree grip angle which many people will feel at home with since it falls between the 1911 and the Glock grip angles. The Shield is also incredibly light, albeit a bit top heavy, which is expected of a polymer pistol. Being a lightweight handgun means it’s that much easier to carry on a daily basis, especially for women who carry in their purses. This handgun appears to have been marketed heavily towards women and newer shooters. The overall dimensions are better suited to women’s hands than the M&P9c and the gun is only available with an external safety. A note on the safety, it’s pretty much worthless. It is inset into the frame to avoid snagging, but that means it’s hard to find and work under stress. I highly recommend carrying this handgun with the safety OFF.

Here’s the Shield compared to my Glock 19 2nd Gen. It has a shorter slide length, but the grip length is nearly the same. The width of the pistol is considerably thinner than my Glock.

For another comparison, this is the Shield compared to a full sized 1911. The 1911 is bigger in every way except in slide width, as one would expect.

Side by Side, M&P Shield, STI Trojan 5.0 (1911), and Glock 19.

Width comparison of the M&P Shield, Glock 19, and STI Trojan (1911). The Glock is supposed to measure 28mm, but the actual frame is wider. I used calibrated calipers to measure the widths.

The M&P Shield features a Melonite coated stainless steel slide and barrel, a polymer frame, and a unique “1.5” stack magazine. It’s not quite a double stack, but it’s staggered considerably more than a single stack. The recoil assembly is a double spring system over a steel guide rod. In smaller pistols the dual rate helps to provide adequate slide velocity to aid extraction while providing sufficient spring rate to chamber the next round and prevent accelerated frame wear. Many people find that these dual rate assemblies help reduce felt recoil.

Typically holster manufacturers are a few steps behind gun makers, but this was not the case for Comp-Tac. They had a model out on the market nearly immediately. A good holster, such as this CTAC from Comp-Tac, makes the M&P Shield disappear and easy to carry. Even compared to my Glock 19 this thing is a cakewalk to carry, and my girlfriend loves it. (It’s her EDC)

So how does it shoot?

The gun shoots really well. Compared to other popular offerings such as the Walther PPS, Kahr CW9, and Ruger LC9 it does a great job of mitigating recoil impulse. The trigger takes some getting used to with the silly snag safety, but conditioning yourself to position your finger on the bottom of the trigger and/or getting an aftermarket model that converts it to a Glock blade style would remedy this. The pull weight is supposed to be 6.5#s but I feel this particular gun is running about the 5# – 5.5# range.

The sights are nice, easy to line-up and track, but after some mileage the front sight is going to be duller than the rears and that’s going to distract your eyes away from the front sight. Just a downside to 3-dot systems, but you could always black out the rears.

Accuracy is great, it’ll hold a 1″ group at 7 yards all day if I do my job correctly. Typically the gun is physically capable of supreme accuracy, but the short sight radius tends to make the longer shot dispersion increase with a human behind it. The light weight also makes the gun a bit less accurate with a human behind it, dropping the pull weight would help immensely, but I wouldn’t really recommend it for a carry gun. Especially with the vague feel of the OEM M&P trigger.

I had bought this gun for my girlfriend to carry, but I find myself wanting to steal it or get one of my own. It’s a really great little pistol, and I’m not even a big fan of small guns.

Original article on Texas Gun Talk.

1500 Hour Remembrance: Don’t Forget!

Monday, May 28th, 2012

Please do not forget, as you go about whatever you’re doing, to pause for a respectful moment of remembrance at 1500L (whatever Local is for you). You may not recall, but the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed 12 years ago, asking that all Americans voluntarily (and informally) observe a moment of remembrance and respect for our fallen. A moment of silence, a moment of prayer or by listening to Taps, something to honor the lives of the men and women of our country’s military who have been killed in the nation’s service.

I grew up hearing my grandmother refer to it as Decoration Day, when you went out and put flags on the graves of all veterans in your local cemetery,though my parents and aunts and uncles called it Memorial Day. The holiday was officially proclaimed 05 May (18)68 by General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic in General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. It was originally to honor the dead of the Civil War, but after WWI it was changed to honor all Americans fighting in any war.

“Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”

Do something today to honor your dead, because even if you never met them, even if you never knew any of them, they are absolutely YOUR dead.

God keep them all. May He comfort their families and their comrades and help us trust His plan that required their sparks be extinguished.

1500 Local: Don’t forget it.

 

Thanks to Gruntworks for the poster and Mahoney’s poem.

Inexpensive rifles

Monday, May 28th, 2012

How about a bullpup configured Walther WA2000 in .300 Winchester Magnum (or 7.62 NATO back then) for about $75,000? They were only $12,500 when they came out 25 years ago. What are some of the most expensive weapons you’ve seen? (For a single user, I mean, not like a MK19 or whatever.)

Aliens: Colonial Marines Release Date Trailer

Sunday, May 27th, 2012

Why does February 23, 2013 have to be so far away? Oh well, at least Prometheus will be in theaters next month.

A little more pre-review of Warfighter

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

Danger Close, the studio behind the yet-to-be-released Medal of Honor Warfighter, is not out to replicate the reality of combat for a Special Forces Operator but they are giving it a hell of a shot by teaming up with Special Operations veterans that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Veterans like Tyler, a former SF Soldier with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who retired after being wounded in 2007. The studio won’t even release his last name in fear of compromising his identity. Tyler, along with a small team of veterans, is working behind the scenes with the developers to make this outing in the Medal of Honor series as authentic as possible for a game. When the developers want to know how to do a tactical reload, breach a door, or conduct a smooth weapons transition they ask Tyler and his team to demonstrate so that the designers can replicate it in the game. This striving for authenticity is a good thing in my eyes and it lends legitimacy to the game that others in the genre sorely lack. Asking for and seeking out the input and advice of combat veterans on a game that takes place on the modern battlefields that quite likely many of the game’s players fought on tells me that the developers actually care about the large community of game playing veterans. Keep it up, Danger Close. Medal of Honor Warfighter isn’t scheduled to be released 23 October but you can pre-order it now on the game site.

 

R2A

2012 Camping Tent Roundup

Friday, May 25th, 2012

CAmpsite

The latest tent technology of 2012 offers new and improved designs for campers and backpackers of every kind. Whether it’s a family affair in 100-degree weather or a solo excursion to the most excruciating alpine climate known to man, this season’s gear won’t disappoint. Browse our list to discover the best tent for your needs.
The Alps Mountaineering Mystique 1 Al Tent

Alps Mountaineering MystiqueThis is the perfect lightweight tent for solo trips. You and all your gear will fit comfortably with it’s unique “porch” storage, and you can count on staying warm and dry no matter what Mother Nature throws your way. Its durability is incredible considering it weighs only 3 lbs., and it’s super easy to transport and set up. The mesh sides and built in fly vents provide for optimum ventilation while giving the option to keep them open or zipped up depending on the elements. Take the Mystique 1 on your trip, and you won’t even know it’s in your pack until you need it.

 

The Marmot Firefly 2PMarmot FireflyWith a spacious floor and high ceiling, this 2-person double-dome is ideal for taller campers. Storage is a breeze with the built in wall organizer and gear loft, and there’s even room for your dog to sleep too. Its light-reflective fabric allows for outside visibility at any time of day, in any condition, and the 360 degree window design allows you to enjoy the view from any position inside the tent. When the full-coverage rainfly isn’t necessary, stargazing is recommended on clear nights with its mesh ceiling, and the mesh walls keep you cool and comfortable even on the hottest summer day. The custom footprint allows for set up just about anywhere, keeping mud, puddles, and sharp rocks absent for the entirety of your stay.

 

Read the rest of the article (and about the other 7 tent styles) on Active Junky.

Two females sue to end combat ban in military

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

From Tactical Life

110430-M-ED643-002
U.S Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Victoria Rogers jumps over a canal on her way to a school in Garmsir district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 30, 2011. Rogers, with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment Female Engagement Team, visited medical clinics and schools on a regular basis as part of the team’s efforts to interact with women in the community. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Colby Brown/Released)

Command Sergeant Major Jane Baldwin and Colonel Ellen Haring, both Army reservists, said policies barring them from assignments “solely on the basis of sex” violated their right to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

“This limitation on plaintiffs’ careers restricts their current and future earnings, their potential for promotion and advancement, and their future retirement benefits,” the women said in the suit filed in U.S. District Court.

110406-F-GF813-043
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Ed Hammond, center, reviews a prison assessment checklist with Spc. Nicole Meixner, right, at Joint Security Station Shield, Iraq, before going outside-the-wire to assess the conditions at a women?s prison in the Rusafa Prison Complex in Baghdad, Iraq, April 6, 2011. Hammond is a U.S. Forces – Iraq provost marshal office corrections assistance transition team first sergeant. Meixner assisted CATT on this mission because only women were allowed into the areas of the facility with female inmates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck/Released)

The Pentagon unveiled a new policy in February that opened up 14,000 more positions to women in the military. It still barred them from serving in infantry, armor and special-operations units whose main job is front-line combat. Women make up about 14.5 percent of active-duty military personnel. More than 800 women have been wounded and more than 130 killed in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the lawsuit said.

Source: Ian Simpson for Reuters.

Original story here.

TD Memorial Day Sale

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

Tactical Distributors is celebrating Memorial Day weekend with a huge sale! 20% off all items in the store (excluding EOTech and Aimpoint) with all orders over $100 getting free overnight shipping (excluding oversized orders and Pelican cases). It starts midnight tonight (EDT) and ends May 28th at midnight. Use promo code ‘HOTDOG20’ at checkout to apply the discount.

Big Dub Orders Dueling Pistols

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

Big Dub is rumored to have special ordered a set of dueling pistols for his personal use and that of the occasional shaved gorilla running amok. That’s the rumor, anyway…it may just be a base canard perpetrated about him by the Mad Duo.

Whatever the truth, I want one of these.

For more about Big Dub, follow the Tactical Tailor Facebook page, with which he is somehow involved.

Big Dub signing autographs recently.

The Year in Special Operations

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

“The Year in Special Operations” has been one of my favorite reads for a few years now, and if it’s a little skewed, it’s not more so than any of the regular military publications and it contains a lot of information you won’t get anywhere else (especially without doing a lot of research). I prefer reading the Amish way, on paper, but an electronic publication will do in a pinch. Check it out, it’s an excellent ‘magazine’.

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/publications/year-in-special-operations-2012-edition/

The Elder Ice Cream

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

“There’s gonna be submachine guns and boobies.”

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

What else do you need to say?

 

Gratuitous hot girl with gun

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

It’s been a while since we had a hot girl with a gun, so we’ll pass this along.

(more…)

Not your every day EDC

Monday, May 21st, 2012

Tired of the same old multitool? Need something to get you by until the next incarnation of MultiTasker is released?

Get a multitool HATCHET.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Includes:

  • Axe
  • Hammer
  • Wrench
  • Straight knife
  • Serrated knife
  • Saw
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Can opener
  • Pliers
  • Wire cutter
  • File

Getcha one here.

Gratuitous hawt tattooed chick

Sunday, May 20th, 2012

Another nummy tattooed girl. It’s not really NSFW, but better safe then sorry.

(more…)