Laser-guided Bullets

You can run but you can't hide from this self-guided bullet...as long as the target is painted by a laser designator.

U.S. researchers have developed a self-guided bullet. The 10 cm, dart-like bullet can hit laser-designated targets more than 1.6 km away. It includes an optical sensor in the nose to detect a laser beam on a target, and instead of spinning when it comes out of the barrel like other bullets, this one flies straight with the help of fins. Models show the design of the bullet would result in dramatic improvements in accuracy.

The two engineers behind the bullet — Red Jones and Brian Kast, who work in a lab owned by a Lockheed Martin — are based in Albuquerque, N.M., and are both hunters. They are now seeking a private partner to complete testing of the prototype and begin selling it.

"We have a very promising technology to guide small projectiles that could be fully developed inexpensively and rapidly," Jones said. He noted accuracy also improves at longer ranges.

"Nobody had ever seen that, but we've got high-speed video photography that shows that it's true," Jones said. He also noted that while larger guided missiles are slow to respond to flight-path corrections, the bullet allows up to 30 changes per second.

"That means we can overcorrect, so we don't have to be as precise each time," Jones said.

The researchers said potential customers could include the military, law enforcement and recreational shooters.

Pity the varmints (4 legged and 2 legged) if this invention comes to market!

By: Shelldrake

Guns 'n Gear: 21st Century Sniper Rifle

Check out the Lockheed-Martin One Shot prototype sniper rifle on Military Time's Gear Scout. This puts a high-tech aiming system on a .308 sniper rifle. The aiming system combines a traditional rifle scope with a laser range-finder and a LIDAR-based sensor to measure down-range wind conditions. The wind sensor technology is important for long-range shots at 600 yards and beyond where reading and compensating for the wind becomes critical. You can read more about MS2, similar products, and the underlying technology on the Accurate Shooter site.

And, if you just have to have something like this to put on your own personal precision rifle, check out the Burris Eliminator or one of its competitors. They don't have the wind sensor and aren't quite up to tactical standards of durability and reliability (as a prototype, One Shot might not be either), but they seem well-suited to waging the annual war on Bambi or her bigger, Western cousins.

By: Guardian

Humor: RTT CQB Man

These two very funny videos are a couple of years old, but I just discovered them recently. I really enjoyed the handy tips on re-loading and clearing malfunctions, so you can get in the primary, slayin' bodies, good-ta-go!

RTT-CQB Man, Episode 1


RTT-CQB Man, Episode 2


By: Guardian


edited by Brant to embed the videos

Guns 'n' Gear: Open Carry and Related Matters

[Author's Note: Brant pointed out this article to three GrogNews contributors and said "Hey, could one of you post on this?" It turns that my friend and colleague JDPort took it and so did I. You can see his take on the topic a few posts before my own.]

The Washingtonian has a feature article on the open carry movement, including brief profiles on 3 women in Virginia who openly carry hand-guns. There are generally two different philosophies on open carry.

The first philosophy says that concealed carry is superior to open carry because it gives the law-abiding citizen the advantage of surprise over a criminal expecting a defenseless, unarmed victim.

The second philosophy, which I subscribe to, is that an openly-carried handgun is aligned with the three essential principles of personal security: avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation. These are well-presented in this thread on the Defensive Carry forums, along with the brilliant "three stupids rule," although I'm unsure who originated them. Specifically, an openly-carry handgun is a clear deterrent to a potential attacker and, if you are forced to use it, a presentation from an openly-carried holster will always be a little faster than presentation from concealment.

As an aside, one concern about open carry is that there is some small subset of bad actors who would view an openly-carried handgun as a "challenge" that entices them to provoke a confrontation with the armed citizen and demonstrate to their thuggish peers how "brave" and "tough" they are. This is not legal advice, but practically, that kind of behavior brings to mind the words of science-fiction author Larry Niven in Oath of Fealty: "Think of it as evolution in action."

Another reason that I favor open carry is that it demonstrates to the public that normal, upstanding members of the community and law-abiding citizens can and do carry weapons. We rarely shoot people and almost all of the people that we shoot deserved it.

So, do I open carry? No.

The legal status of open carry in the State of North Carolina, where I live, is ambiguous. Open carry is not explicitly prohibited, but there are various local ordnances that restrict "going about armed to the terror of the public." The area where I live is a "bubble" of upper-middle class families. I know from discussions with at least some members of this loose-knit community that they refuse to acknowledge the dangerous nature of the real world that exists just across a couple of major roads that form a (porous) border between neighborhoods in this area. This is, unfortunately, especially true of the women, who are generally either "soccer moms" or "trophy wives" (my own wife is thankfully neither) and far too likely become "terrorized" if they saw me walk into the local grocery store to pick-up some milk and bread with a 9mm on my hip. Of course, I think they would be thrilled to discover that the same 9mm was inside my waistband if I happened upon them being robbed, mugged, car-jacked, raped, etc. in the grocery store's parking lot. This is one of the many paradoxes of 21st-century suburban American life. I don't want to be the subject of a panicked "man with a gun" call to 911, which would at best be a hassle and at worst be lethal if the responding officer was a trigger-happy rookie not well-informed on the 2nd Amendment, so I don't carry openly.

If I lived somewhere, like Virginia, where open carry was more legally clear, I probably would do it. I'd like to see my own state's laws change, but I have little taste for political activism and I think there are higher-priority Second Amendment/personal security issues to be dealt with in NC in any case. For one thing, I would like to see the list of prohibited locations ("victim disarmament zones," as I call them) dramatically curtailed. I can accept no CCW in courthouses, police stations, and the like that are filled with LEO's. I feel reasonably safe there, although I would like for places like that to have a "gun check" (like a "coat check") where they could securely store my weapon while I'm conducting my business there.

However, I really have a hard time with many of the other no-CCW locations:

• Banks? I was talking with a friend not long ago and this topic came up. I jokingly said, "Yes, in fact, I was going to rob a bank the other day, but then I saw the little 'no guns' sticker on the door. My plan was thwarted, I gave up, and went back to work."


• Movie theaters? These are "victim disarmament zones" under the "any place that charges admission" restriction of the NC CCW law. What are they worried about here? Perhaps the legislators thought that too many citizens would take Chris Rock's hilarious comment from his Bigger and Blacker tour to heart: "Wow, this is a good movie! It's so good, I'm gonna bust a cap in here!"


• Schools? No joking with this. A legally-armed citizen could have saved innocent lives at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, and other active-shooter incidents.


• Restaurants that serve alcohol? CCW in an actual bar is not a good idea and I know full well that alcohol and guns don't mix. In fact, I rarely drink alcohol at all any more, in part because I'm usually armed if I'm out-and-about. But if I go out to lunch with a colleague from work to grab a burger at a local grill that happens to serve beer and I'm not drinking, is the mere presence of alcohol going to drive me into some kind of homicidal rage? It would be analogous to banning people from driving to places that serve alcohol, because some of them might drink and then drive.

Once these issues are addressed, then maybe open carry is worth tackling in this state.

As always, this posting is not legal advice. You are responsible for knowing and abiding by the laws in your jurisdiction.

Until next time, keep your powder dry...

By: Guardian

Guns 'N Gear: 5.11 Covert Cargo Pant

Happy holidays, dear readers! In this post, I will share one of my favorite pieces of practical gear for the armed citizen: 5.11 Tactical's Covert Cargo Pants.

To give you some context, I really don't like dressing up for work, or really any other occasion. I dress for comfort and function. Even Dockers feel uncomfortable to me. A while back, I discovered 5.11 Tactical's Covert Cargo Pants and they have changed my opinion of slacks. Here are some key points:

• The double front pockets make these pants extremely functional for everyday carry. The outer pocket on each side is open-topped and can be used for keys, a cell phone, and similar items. The inner pocket is secured with a zipper with a pull string. This inner pocket has elastic loops that can be used to securely discreetly stow a variety of EDC gear: pistol magazines, a small tactical flashlight like the Surefire E2DL, or a multi-tool.
• The pants are simply comfortable. I originally bought them to wear to work, but they are so comfortable that I wear them around the house and out-and-about most of the time too. Coming from me, that is a big endorsement for any item of clothing. They also fit loose enough, at least on me, that I have a full range of motion in case I need it.
• My biggest complaint is that these pants have a large cargo pocket on each side in the lower thigh era. These are designed for rifle/carbine magazines, but I honestly find them kind of silly. As a civilian, if I'm rockin' the AR-15 in a SHTF situation, I'm not going to be worried about somebody seeing my magazines. On the other hand, if I'm out grocery shopping, I'm not going to have my AR-15 anyway, so why do I need these huge cargo pockets? Even for a LEO or security professional, I don't see how these cargo pockets make sense. In fact, I think they draw attention to the wearer and detract from the otherwise clean look of the pants.
• The color choices are a little limited. The khaki is obviously a safe choice and blends with environments ranging from offices to shopping malls. The other choices either draw attention (OD Green) or are just "meh." I would love to see 5.11 make these pants in a simple black and gray colors to make it easier to match these pants with a shirt.

One quick TTP (tactics, techniques, and procedures) note on these pants: if you are right-handed shooter like me, I recommend putting a spare magazine and a tactical flashlight (like the E2DL I mentioned above) in the left zippered pocket. Put a multi-tool in the other pocket, possibly along with a less-lethal option like a small OC dispenser. If you are left-handed, switch these around. With this set-up, you can deploy the handgun and flashlight together (using, for example, the Harries flashlight technique) in a low-light lethal force encounter.

Some may observe that this gives you only one spare magazine. My philosophy about spare magazines for EDC is that you are not carrying a spare magazine to give you more rounds to fire. Even a 6+1 subcompact .45 like the Glock 36 gives you enough rounds to resolve almost any self-defense situation. The reason for the spare magazine is that the magazine is one of the most failure-prone components of an firearm system and you may need to clear a Type III malfunction (double feed) by replacing the magazine.

Now, back to the pants. As they are today, I would rate them 4 out of 5 stars. If 5.11 ditches the large cargo pockets and comes out with a couple of more easy-to-match colors, they will have made the perfect pants for everyday carry.

If Santa left you with an extra $50 or so after the holidays, give 5.11 Tactical's Covert Cargo Pants a try. They are well worth it.

(Image above is from LA Police Gear, one of my favorite vendors for shooting-related gear).

By: Guardian

XM-25 "Smart Gun" Hailed As "Game Changer"

The revolutionary XM-25 has already been issued to US troops serving in Afghanistan.

A new gun the US military hopes will help take on the Taliban has been unveiled. Called the XM-25 it has been described by the US Army as a 'game changer'. It uses a laser guidance system and specially developed 25mm high explosive rounds which can be programmed to detonate over a target. Richard Audette helped develop it for the US Army and says it's a big leap forward because it's the first small arms weapon to use smart technology.

By: Shelldrake

US Army Upgrades Sniper Weapon System

US Army snipers can look forward to a new weapon system for Christmas, courtesy of Remington Arms Company.

A recently awarded weapons contract means Army snipers can expect to see an improved rifle, with an extended range, in the field by Christmas.

The Army's Program Executive Office Soldier recently awarded Remington Arms Company a contract for the M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System.

The award will result in the near-term fielding of 250 XM2010 weapon systems, which will be chambered for .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges. The new chambering significantly extends the weapon's maximum effective range. It's expected the Army will field the upgraded weapons to deployed Army snipers by the end of December.

"Within the space of a year, we were able to partner with industry to deliver a new capability for our snipers in combat," said Lt. Col. Chris Lehner, the product manager for individual weapons, part of PEO Soldier. "The upgraded weapon system provides extended range for our snipers and incorporates the latest in weapons technology."

The upgraded weapon features a five-round box magazine to make the system easier to load and reload, with the additional option to change out ammunition quickly. The system is also equipped with a rail-endowed chassis and free floating barrel that allows for easier mounting of weapon accessories and greater accuracy.

Locked on to that new rail, the XM2010 sports a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm extended range/tactical riflescope with advanced scalable ranging and targeting reticle. The system is also fielded with the AN/PVS-29 clip-on sniper night sight. And the system's included quick-attach suppressor reduces audible and visible signature with an available thermal sleeve that reduces the mirage effect on heated suppressors.

After a full and open competition, the Army awarded the firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the upgrade of up to 3,600 M24 systems.

By: Shelldrake

Poll: Missing GN Feature You Want Back?

Yesterday we asked what new feature you liked the most. Today, we want you to tell us what you want back in rotation, if anything. Note that we're not promising we can get them back, but it we'll do what we can!

poll by twiigs.com

By: Brant

M24 Sniper Rifle Modified For Use In Afghanistan

The tactical situation in Afghanistan has resulted in the US Army modifying its M24 sniper rifle.

In 1988 the Army adopted this bolt-action rifle, shown here without modifications, for use by its snipers. This fall, soldiers in Afghanistan will receive an upgrade to their bolt-action rifles. The Remington M24 will have a modified barrel to shoot larger .300 Winchester Magnum rounds, it will shoot nearly 35 percent farther and will carry a new, more accurate sight. Here’s a look at the tech behind the new rifle.

1. Signature Suppressor
The military will, for the first time, fit the M24 with a suppressor, which reduces the rifle's noise and distorts the telltale sound (called the signature) that enemies use to identify a shooter. The mod will allow snipers to stay in their hiding positions longer after they fire.

2. Chassis
The M24 customized for use in Afghanistan will have a rail chassis that provides space for more accessories, including night-vision gear, which will clip to the rail in front of the scope.

3. Optic Scope
The rifle will be modified with a variable power scope that can reach as high as 25x magnification. Snipers can also utilize a rangefinder so that they no longer have to perform distance calculations.

4. Ergonomic Stock
The M24's new stock features an adjustable butt plate so that snipers wearing body armor can use it easily. A collapsible stock will make it more compact.

By: Shelldrake

Solid State Laser Destroys UAVs

If all goes well in future tests, the venerable Phalanx close-in weapons system will be getting a laser upgrade to its capabilities.

For the first time, a solid-state laser has successfully destroyed a flying drone in a naval environment.

The tests, performed by Raytheon with the Navy, occurred off of San Nicholas Island, Calif. over several days in late May. Four UAVs were destroyed, according to Mike Booen, vice president of directed energy.

Booen spoke with DoD Buzz in an exclusive interview at the Farnborough Air Show. The company mounted six 5.5kw solid-state lasers with a Phalanx gun system. The radar used the Phalanx’s targeting system, Booen said. And the famous guns could be used to supplement the radar.

By: Shelldrake

Why I Hate Most Real-time "Strategy" Games

Hello again, dear readers, it's Guardian here again, writing from an "undisclosed TDY location". I've been on a hiatus for a while, so I thought I'd give you a quick update before getting to the meat of this post. It was fun to write the "Guns 'n' Gear" column, but I'm going to suspend it because I feel like hands-on T&E is a lot more valuable than my armchair speculations about toys I read about on the Internet. I just don't have the time or money to do it justice except for an occasional post on noteworthy items. Instead, I'm going to just do my best to contribute some semi-regular posts on the full range of topics here on GrogNews, from funny stuff like my "Fast Roping 101" link a few weeks back to thoughts on games, game design, and so forth. With that, on to this post's main topic.

According to this article on Ubergizmo, competitive players in real-time strategy games like StarCraft take 300 actions per minute. That is, you need to make and execute 300 decisions (moving a unit, attacking, exploiting a resource, etc.) every minute. That is, in other words, 5 decisions every second.

I've been in Tactical Operations Centers (TOCs) during real-world troops-in-contact (TIC) and other intense situations. Nobody in the TOC is making and executing 5 decisions every second. I doubt that even a world-class shooter doing free-flow dynamic CQB or a fighter pilot in a dogfight is consistently making and executing 5 decisions every second.

Sure, modern warfare, especially kinetic engagements, are fast-paced and intense, but not this fast-paced and intense. This kind of hyperactive pace detracts from depth of gameplay, richness of strategy, realism (for reality-based games), and other important design values in a game.

This is especially problematic when you consider that the best RTS AIs still leave a lot to be desired. In a real war, a leader can establish rules of engagement and expect that his units will at least defend themselves in accordance with the ROE. If he's fortunate, they will take initiative to achieve their specified objectives and satisfy the commander's intent. On the other hand, I've seen many RTS AIs where friendly forces will let themselves get flattened by loitering strike fighters and bombers unless I click the little button that says "Yes, Avenger battery, you are actually supposed to at least make an attempt to shoot down the Hinds that are slaughtering the infantry company just in front of you."

So, what do I propose instead of these hyperactive click-fests?

What I'd like to see in real-time strategy games is time compression, like in the Harpoon series of computer wargames, where the game can run anywhere from some speed slower than real time (for example, 5 seconds of real time = 1 second of game time) to a speed much faster than real time (IIRC, Harpoon went up to a 1:32 time compression factor). I think 1:1 should be the lower limit, to maintain some sense of time pressure. If there's a lull in the action, the player can crank up the time compression. If things are getting intense, he can turn it down to 1:1 so he actually execute a reasonable OODA loop. As long as the player remains in ultimate control, the game itself can (optionally) adjust the time compression automatically.

So, how do you handle multi-player? I have a simple answer: multi-player games would run at the slowest time compression rate selected by one of the players. If A wants to run at 1:1 and B wants to run at 1:4, the game runs at 1:1 unless A also selects 1:4 (or faster) time compression.

I've mostly been playing console games lately. Do any modern PC real-time wargames or RTS's get this right?

By: Guardian

SOCOM Cancels Mk-16 SCAR

According to an article on Military.com, the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has cancelled further procurement of the Mk.16 SOCOM Combat Assault Rifle-Light (SCAR-L) in favor of buying only the 7.62x51mm SCAR-H "heavy" variant of the SCAR.

“The Mk-16 does not provide enough of a performance advantage over the M-4 to justify spending USSOCOM’s limited … funds when competing priorities are taken into consideration,” officials at USSOCOM said in an email response to questions from Military.com.

A few thoughts on this:

1. I'm glad I didn't spend $2,500+ on a SCAR-L "because I want to shoot what SOCOM shoots."
2. This decision certainly implies that the M4 is a "good enough" carbine, even by SOCOM's high standards.
3. The AR-15/M16/M4 platform will be with us for quite a while longer.
4. It seems that the SCAR-H will likely become a niche weapon, fielded in quite limited quantities.

For civilian shooters who want a battle rifle, this is another reason to consider either a KAC/DPMS/Magpul-compatible "AR-308" rifle or an M1A or maybe hold out for Magpul's long-gestating Massoud (the .308 version of the Remington/Bushmaster ACR, nee Magpul Masada).

By: Guardian

UK Troops To Get New Body Armour

Osprey Mark 4 body armour (worn by the UK soldier on the right) may be heavy but the weight of the new body armour is well worth it for the additional protection provided to 16 Air Assault Brigade troops who will be deploying to Afghanistan later this fall.

It offers troops better-fitting and newly-upgraded armour, protecting them as they work and fight.

Service personnel working outside the main bases in Afghanistan wear Osprey body armour, which is made up of a vest-like outer cover, a soft ballistic filler to stop fragments from bullets and explosions, and a hard protective plate that protects their vital organs.

The latest model has more loops, allowing troops to personalise their armour to suit their role by attaching their own choice of a range of 23 detachable pockets or pouches.

The 23 pouches that come with the Mark 4 Osprey body armour are as follows:

3 x SA80 single magazine
4 x SA80 double magazine
3 x single SA80 magazine with elastic pull-cord
2 x smoke grenade
2 x anti-personnel grenade
sharpshooter magazine
utility
water bottle
light machine gun magazine - 100 round
first aid kit
2 x 9mm pistol magazine
underslung grenade launcher - 8 round
commander's pouch

By: Shelldrake

Paging Guardian!

We're missing our Guns'n'Gear fix!

By: Brant

Guns and Gear: Beware of the Man Who Has One Gun (and One Optic), Part 1

Regular readers have probably figured out by now that I am a big fan of the AR-15 platform. A wise man whose name is lost to the sands of the Internet described the AR-15 as "Legos for adults," referring to the great versatility of the platform and its ability to be configured to suit your purposes.

Some AR-15 owners take this to an extreme, building or buying many different AR-15 variants in many different configurations: a short-barreled rifle for CQB, a KISS 20-inch rifle for that retro feel, a mid-length "recce" configuration for general-purpose shooting, a 24-inch platform for varmint hunting (depending on their interests), a tricked-out M4 configuration with stuff on every rail in case Blackwater/Xe calls them out-of-the-blue with a BYOG (Bring Your Own Gun) job offer, a precision rig with a stainless steel barrel, etc. When I'm feeling relatively sane and avoiding the constant temptation of "because it's cool," I favor the other extreme. Another wise man said "Beware of the man who has one gun. He probably knows how to use it."

This is the goal that I aspire to (assuming, as I said, that I can avoid the temptations of "because it's cool"). I want one AR-15 that can do it all, from CQB/MOUT/FISH at indoor distances of 0-25 meters to precision shooting at the approximately 500-600 meter effective range of a 77-grain 5.56x45mm cartridge. This has many advantages from both the training and logistics perspectives: one manual of arms, one sight picture, one cheek weld, one stance, one grip, one trigger feel, one set of spare parts, one set of maintenance and repair procedures, one set of magazines, one type of ammo, etc.

Looking at the major components of an AR-15 system, this goal is mostly achievable: start with a decent lower receiver and parts kit, add a reliable two-stage trigger like those made by Geissele Automatics, put on a quality upper receiver group with a 16-inch barrel and mid-length gas system like that made by Bravo Company Manufacturing or the Noveske N4 series, and add a Magpul UBR stock or a VLTOR E-Mod. Put on a good light and mount, like the Viking Tactics mount with the SureFire G2 LED, for night/low-light environments or just about any of the SureFire dedicated weapon lights. Add a good vertical foregrip or try Magpul's innovative new Angled Foregrip. Finally, add a Harris bipod or a Tango Down Advanced Combat Bipod if you'll be doing a lot of prone shooting or just want a work-out for your support-side forearm :). This is basically the "recce" configuration I referred to above.

There's one little detail missing from this "dream carbine": sights.

Our Marines still qualify with the M16 at 500 yards with open sights. Alas, they are also less than half my age when they go through boot camp and their jobs keep them in the great outdoors, not in front of a computer for 50+ hours a week. Iron sights are noticeably slow in fast, close-range shooting, so we need something better than this. Although I don't like "because that's what (the Marines. the Army Rangers, the Navy SEALs, or the US Postal Service SWAT team) uses" as a justification, it is worth noting that almost all Fleet Marines have an optic on top of their rifle. The iron sights are used in in boot camp to teach the fundamentals of marksmanship without gee-whiz gadgets.

There is a lot to be said for red-dot sights like the Aimpoint Comp series or holograph sights like the L-3/EOTech series. They are wicked fast in close-quarters shooting and people (presumably with better eyes than me) can shoot them to "minute of bad guy" (or better) at 300 yards. More recently, 3/4x magnifiers with flip-to-side mounts have become available to improve the effectiveness of these sights at medium ranges. However, these add to the risk of snagging your weapon on something and your CQB reticle may not be well-suited to 300-500 yard shots where bullet drop becomes too significant for "Kentucky hold-over." To be frank, I also think this is simply inelegant.

At the other end of the spectrum are the fixed-power 4x scopes like the Trijicon ACOG series. I used to have a TA01NSN ACOG and I absolutely loved it. I would come home from the range quite proud of the nice little groups I put on my targets at 300 yards. Then I went to GunSite and really learned how to shoot the AR-15 in the Tactical Carbine and Advanced Tactical Carbine classes. I did good at the 300-yard line and, thanks to the ACOG's superior light-gathering characteristics and illuminated reticle, excelled at the night shoot. When it came to the 25-yard line and the shoot house, though, I was way behind the power curve. The 4x magnification slowed me down and the back-up sights on top of the TA01NSN are worse than useless (*). Based on what I learned at GunSite, I became an Aimpoint devotee for quite a few years, then moved up to the EOTech, but I miss the medium- to long-range capability, if for no other reasons than: a) medium- to long-range shooting is fun and b) two-gun/three-gun competition is a good way to sustain very perishable combat shooting skills and most courses of fire include some precision shots.

Let me pause at this point and say that for 90% of the shooting that a civilian would do in a self-defense situation, a non-magnifying red-dot or holographic scope (like the Aimpoint or EOTech products I've already mentioned) would be just fine. Even in a SHTF situation, you wouldn't be taking 300-yard shots if for no other reason that when law and order is restored, you'd have a hard time convincing a jury that a dirt-bag at 300 yards represented an immediate, deadly threat to you and your family. How do you even positively identify a threat at 300 yards? Gang colors aside (which unfortunately aren't a legal justification for the use of deadly force), it's not like the bad guys in a SHTF situation will be wearing uniforms. (**)

That said, it seems that we've talked ourselves into an impasse. The ACOG, Aimpoint, and EOTech optics are all great at what they do, but none of them is a "one-size-fits-all" solution to top off this general-purpose carbine. In our next installment, I'll look at some options.

By: Guardian

(*) Newer versions of the ACOG offer a mini-red dot sight on top of the main sight, but you still have to change your cheek weld. Newer versions of the ACOG also offer the Binden Aiming Concept in which a trick of the eye superimposes the reticle on your vision when you keep both eyes open. I tried this at a military trade show a while back and it does work, but it's not especially natural or comfortable (at least to me). Your mileage may vary.

(**) Although it's been a while since my last post, the hiatus was not for me to get my J.D. and pass the bar exam. I'm still not a lawyer and still not offering legal advice.

Guns and Gear: The M14 and Other Battle Rifles

Hello again, readers. First, please accept my apologies for missing last week's regularly-scheduled post. My "day job" has been rather hectic lately.

This month's edition of SWAT Magazine includes a very interesting article entitled "The Myth of the M14 Rifle."

Being a fan of all things high-tech, the variants of the M14 that have most captured my attention are the Mk14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) and the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR). I first saw an EBR in Fallujah and thought, "I have got to get me one of those." The EBR was, to me, the coolest piece of kit I had ever seen in-country, certainly cooler than the "pimp my carbine" M4s.

Every since that first sighting, a civilianized version of the EBR, like that made by Fulton Armory, has lingered on my wish list. As I said in my first column, the key question about any gear purchase is "Why do I want this?" Beyond "it's wicked cool" (in the case of the EBR), the benefits of an M14-like rifle compared to a standard M4/M16/AR-15 are obvious:

• The M14's 7.62x51mm NATO round delivers superior stopping power at all ranges compared to the M4/M16/AR-15's 5.56x45mm NATO round.
• The effective range of the 7.62 NATO round is on the order of 800 yards, compared to 500 yards at the outside for 5.56 NATO.
• While the standard M14 chassis would be a major handicap in a CQB/FISH environment, the EBR's modernized chassis would be at least passable (if not ideal) indoors.
• Unlike "exotic" rounds like 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel, 7.62 NATO ammunition is relatively plentiful.

To summarize, there is something elegant about a rifle that, with the right optic, is workable in close quarters but can also reach out to 800 yards.

The article in SWAT Magazine pointed out some key advantages. Among the most relevant to me, as a civilian defensive shooter centered on the AR-15 platform, are:

• The manual of arms for an M14-type rifle is completely different than that for the AR-15 platform. Under the pressure of a SHTF situation (or even a competitive three-gun match), the muscle memory from thousands of repetitions of shouldering the weapon, changing magazines, activating/deactivating the safety, and so forth on one platform will not transfer to the other.
• There is little or no interchangability of parts between the M14 platform and the AR-15 platform. The maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair procedures are also different. By adding another platform into the mix, your logistics requirements have just gotten more complicated (especially if you have to self-sustain for a while, as in a SHTF situation).
• According to the author of the article, the M14 platform is more maintenance-intensive and the barrel life is shorter compared to the AR-15 platform.

After considering these and other points that the author made, I started to think about "why do I really want this" and "what are the other options"? I'll admit that, for a civilian living an urban/suburban area, the basic justification for any battle rifle is mostly "because it's cool." In a SHTF situation, I'd be hard-pressed to find a sightline beyond the effective range of an AR-15 anywhere near my home or bug-out site and in a home defense scenario, the penetration of the 7.62 NATO round is probably more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Those of you living in more rural and less wooded areas (like the American Midwest and West) are in different circumstances.

Accepting that this is (at least for me) fundamentally a "because it's cool" item on the wish list, what are some more practical options that satisfy the itch for a manly battle rifle that fires a manly 7.62 NATO cartridge?

• FN SCAR-H: The SCAR-H is not yet available on the civilian market and has many of the same training and logistics issues as an M14 platform: different manual of arms (although closer to the AR-15 than the M14), little overlap in spare parts, and little overlap in maintenance/troubleshooting/repair procedures.
• FAL: My friend and fellow Grog News writer Steve recently covered the FAL in one of his posts. The modernized versions of this "Right Arm of the Free World," such as those offered by DS Arms, are especially appealing if you want some flexibility in your configuration. However, most of the issues with the M14 still apply.
• "AR-308": With the recent adoption of the Knight's SR-25 platform by the US military for the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, as well as the UK's recent adoption of the LMT .308 Modular Weapon System as the LM7 designated marksman rifle, the picture surrounding 7.62 NATO variants of the AR-15 platform (which I'll generically call the "AR-308") is starting to become clearer. In my mind, a key milestone for this platform was Magpul's recent introduction of the PMAG 20LR magazine for M110, SR-25, Fulton Armory Titan, and DPMS LR308 rifles (but not the Armalite AR-10 series). Compatibility of magazines across a broad range of manufacturers indicates to me that the "AR-308" platform is starting to stabilize.

Now we're talking! The "AR-308" platform has the same manual of arms as the AR-15 platform. Accessories such as grips and stocks are (generally) compatible between the AR-15 and the "AR-308," along with some (but not all) spare parts and most armorer's procedures. The cost is also a significant consideration. A nicely-configured EBR-style rifle from Fulton Armory runs about $4,100. A similarly-configured Fulton Armory Titan Universal Precision Carbine (UPC) with an 18.5-inch medium-weight National Match barrel, two-stage match trigger, Magpul UBR stock and MIAD grip, and free-float rail system can be had for about $2,800.00. Put one of the new 1-8x optics (which I'm really looking forward to writing about soon) on it and you have a very versatile battle rifle based on the familiar AR-15 platform.

Putting one of these together is going to go on my project list. But first, a bare-bones tactical shotgun so I can get back into three-gun competition and one of those fancy new optics I just mentioned...

Until next time, keep your powder dry!

By: Guardian

Guns and Gear: Weapons and Tactics in Games

Brant asked me to take a break from my usual gear porn and serious musings on self-defense to share some thoughts on how weapons and tactics are represented in games. After all, this is primarily a gaming-oriented blog :).

Unlike most of my colleagues here at GrogNews, I am, first and foremost, a console gamer, not a PC gamer or a tabletop gamer. The relative merits of electronic vs. tabletop gaming and of the various electronic gaming platforms can be debated for hours (or megabytes, as the case may be), but suffice to say that there are some great strategic and tactical games on consoles. At the strategic level, Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution comes to mind, while Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six series and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising are among the best tactical games on console platforms. In terms of popularity, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (MW2) is at the top of the heap right now, with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor following in its footsteps with hopes of topping its gameplay and technical accomplishments and at least approaching its commercial success.

In today's posting, I'll touch on some features that I would like to see in a tactical-action game on the PC or next-gen console platforms. Some games do some, but not all of these things, right, while some of the other ideas have not yet (to the best of my knowledge) hit the market.

Distinct Models for Weapons and Ammunition

Terminal effects (e.g., damage inflicted) are fundamentally a property of the cartridge, not the weapon from which it was fired. An M855/SS109 NATO 5.56x45mm, 62-grain penetrator cartridge fired from an M4 is fundamentally the same as one fired from an M16, an ACR, an Tavor TAR-21, an F2000, a FAMAS, or any other weapon chambered for 5.56 NATO. There can be differences in terminal effects based on different muzzle velocities from different barrel lengths, but these effects only come into play at medium ranges (beyond 100 meters).

Yes, MW2, I'm looking at you. Why is someone shot by an M16A4 or a TAR-21 dramatically more wounded than someone shot by an M4?

Magazine Compatibility

While we're on the topic of ammunition, a small improvement that a lot of games (yes, MW2, I'm looking at you again) could make is to recognize compatibility of magazines between various weapons. If my squad-mate is armed with an M16A4 and I'm armed with an M4A1, we can use each other's magazines. In fact, the M4, M16, ACR, TAR-21, F2000, FAMAS, AUG, G36, L85, M249 SAW, L86 LSW, and many other weapons can use the STANAG magazine most commonly associated with the M4/M16/AR-15.

Penetration

This has really improved over the past few years, but some games still don't get it right. The other night, I was playing M.A.G. while my wife worked on her laptop on the sofa next to me. I was playing a sniper role, popping 1-2 enemies at a time and then displacing left or right along a long fence line. I was really racking up the kills when my wife, who is not anywhere near as into weapons and tactics as I am, looks up at the screen, hears the enemy's return fire hitting the fence, and innocently asks, "What's the fence made out of?" "Wood," I responded and then realized what she was pointing out: the game had lulled me into treating a wooden fence as hard cover.

Movement and Positions

For a game to be in any way realistic, it has to model the real biomechanics of a how trained shooter moves, the positions that they take, and the effects of movement and position on accuracy. Ideally, games should also model fatigue and the effect of pulse and respiration rate on the stability of your body as a shooting platform.

I can't tell you how many times I've been killed in on-line games by some 12-year-old bunny-hopping on the approach and circle-strafing for the kill. I've completed some fairly high-speed training (especially for a civilian), but I must have missed the session where they covered bunny-hopping and circle-stafing as individual movement techniques.

Ricochets

Richochets are a real issue with small-arms fire, especially in urban environments that can be used to one's advantage or can present a risk (either from friendly or enemy fire). For example, a skilled machine gunner can "skip" rounds along a wall to hit otherwise protected targets. FM 3-06 discusses this and other factors that designers of realistic tactical action games would be well-advised to study.

Reaction Times

I haven't done any controlled tests on this topic, but it seems that games vary in how they treat reaction times of friendly NPCs and AI opponents. I know that SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle and SWAT 4, from the now-defunct Sierra Online, did it fairly well, because they actually had a difficulty setting to control the reaction times of AI opponents.

Wikipedia offers a decent overview of the topic and a column in a recent issue of SWAT Magazine also discussed the topic of reaction times with an emphasis on its tactical implications. At a minimum, I think a game should include some delay for the reaction time of the character observing the stimulus, making a decision (do I shoot or not? do I need to re-load? do I need to turn left or right to face a threat? etc.), and then actually executing the action (squeezing the trigger, executing a tactical or speed re-load, turning, moving, etc.).

Go/no-go reactions are also faster than choice reactions. If the AI is already covering a door that it expects the player to come through, it just needs to decide to fire when he sees the player come through the door (like readying an action in D&D). If, on the other hand, the AI is just standing around smoking and joking one moment and in the next moment he's covered in his buddy's blood and brain matter from a suppressed 7.62 round to the head, he has to go through a lot of choices: drop prone? dash for cover? unsling my weapon and return fire (where did the shot come from)? freeze in panic? etc.

There are other areas to consider (like the teamwork between a sniper and an observer that it takes to make a one-shot kill against a fleeting target at 800 yards or a better representation of terminal effects, including the effects of body armor), but perhaps those would push the game too far toward a simulation for realism fanatics like me.

In conclusion, I'd love to hear what you, our readers, think. What makes a good tactical-action game? What games do it really well and, conversely, what are some of the worst representations of combat in games that claim to be realistic?

[Edited to fix a typo.]

By: Guardian

Pimp My Gun

Check out Pimp My Gun. With simple dragging and dropping, you can build your virtual dream gun, loaded down with all the accessories to turn it in a $10,000, 15-pound, chicks-dig-it death machine. The site includes a pretty broad range of parts including receivers, barrels, grips, optics, and electronics, allowing you to build everything from a run-of-the-mill AR-15 or AK-47 to the always-sexy G36 or even create your own strange hybrids.

By: Guardian

Guns and Gear: Tactical Bacon

With a variety of AR-15 rifles and components (especially a huge selection of barrel configurations), CMMG is worth considering when it comes to weapons.

CMMG also brings a unique offering to the survival food market: Tactical Bacon. 9 ounces of fully cooked bacon in a secure package with a 10-year shelf life. Pair it with some Mountain House powdered eggs and you'll have a great breakfast after a long night of standing watch as civilization burns around you.

Mmmm, bacon! Is there anything it can't do?

By: Guardian

Carrying a Handgun: Separate Facts from Fallacies

The March 2010 issue of SWAT Magazine has an excellent article on "Carrying a Handgun: Separate Facts from Fallacies" by Pat Rogers. Rogers a retired Marine Chief Warrant Officer, a retired NYPD Sergeant, and is one of the most respected tactical trainers in the business through E.A.G. Tactical.

Some of the key points that Rogers makes are:

A gun is not the answer to every problem...

Carrying your favorite handgun is not as simple as it sounds. It requires a
gross shift in your attitude, demeanor, habits and choice of clothing...

If you carry a gun, you need to carry all of the time, and every place that
you legally can... (*)

The gun you carry is going to be a compromise...

Rogers also covers various types of holsters and guns for CCW, including the pros and cons of revolvers vs. pistols.

See my earlier post on "Lessons Learned the Hard Way" for a note on another excellent article in the same issue of SWAT Magazine.

By: Guardian

(*): Yes, Steve, you caught me being a "sheep" once. That was a (fairly rare) case of do like I say, not like I do :).